March 30 marked another fight night for the UFC, or United Fighting Championship, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight card showcased several fighters from various weight classes and styles. The main event, however, featured Erin “Cold Blooded” Blanchfield, a fearsome threat in the women’s flyweight division, and her opponent, Manon “The Beast” Fiorot.
This five-round fight managed to go the distance, with both fighters putting on a show for the crowd. Round 1 started off strong, with Blanchfield putting the pressure on with an early submission attempt and an escape from Fiorot. Following that attempt and heading into the second round, both fighters exchanged jabs and punches, with the round going in Fiorot’s favor.
The third round showed a similar pattern as both fighters strived to finish their opponent. However, Fiorot’s strikes and jabs proved to be more effective as Blanchfield could not find a solid footing in the round. The second-to-last round again went in Fiorot’s favor, as her striking simply dominated Blanchfield’s grappling and kicks. The final round was an aggressive one, with both fighters throwing everything they had at each other.
Blanchfield’s reddening face took more hits, while Fiorot suffered multiple kicks to the body. Following the sound of the bell and both fighters still standing, the judges scored the bout 50-45, a unanimous decision in favor of Fiorot. This fight also extended her UFC win streak to seven, and during the post-fight interview, Fiorot expressed her excitement and hopes of a title shot against the current flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso.
The entire event hosted 13 fights, culminating in a total of eight knockouts and two performance-of-the-night bonuses. From the prelims, many fighters had stellar performances, including Nate “The Train” Landwehr, who managed to knock out his opponent, Jamall Emmers, in just four minutes, and Dennis “The Great” Buzukja, who defeated his opponent in the final round.
However, the highlight of the night was Blanchfield and Fiorot. The fight night was electric, with many records broken and new contenders emerging from the underworks of the UFC. Now the only question is: What is next for the winners and losers of the night?