Erin Blanchfield managed to grind out a unanimous decision victory over Rose Namajunas tonight at UFC Fight Night 246.
Round One:
Namajunas takes the center of the Octagon at the start as Blanchfield opts to move side to side on the outside.
Jab for Namajunas. Now a calf kick for her. Body kick from Blanchfield. Another quick one lands but not behind them.
Grazing right hand from Namajunas. Now a leg kick. counter jab lands now as Blanchfield misses. Head kick from Blanchfield comes up short.
One-two for Blanchfield. Low kick for Namajunas. Step-in punch lands for her. Now a three-piece combo for ‘Thug’ Rose.
Head kick attempt from Blanchfield. Jab from Namajunas. Blanchfield with a short flurry without getting through cleanly.
Jab again from Namajunas. Blanchfield misses a head kick and Namajunas counters with a low kick.
Blanchfield trying to pick up her activity late in the round but still struggling to land cleanly. Nice jab from Namajunas.
Round Two:
Namajunas moving away nicely as Blanchfield tries to land. Straight right for Namajunas. Brief flurry from both without much in the way of clean connections.
Right hand a left hook for Namajunas. Calf kick for Blanchfield. Right hand for Namajunas. ‘Thug’ lands again and Blanchfield opts to close the distance and work into the clinch. Blanchfield trying for a takedown against the cage now.
Namajunas surprises Blanchfield with a slick judo throw. She’s not able to keep her down though and so they go back to striking range.
Head kick attempt from Blanchfield wasn’t far away from connecting. Namajunas making Blanchfield miss her strikes.
Nice right hand from Namajunas as Blanchfield steps in. Body-head combo for her. Grazing right hand for Namajunas.
Namajunas steps back and lands another punch. Another nice right hand for her. Blanchfield charges forward behind punches to clinch up against the cage and go for a late takedown. Namajunas able to escape though.
Round Three:
Leg kick to the thigh for Blanchfield. Head kick attempt is blocked. Step-in right hand for Namajunas.
Low kick for Blanchfield. Leg kick for Namajunas now. One-two from Blanchfield. Blanchfield upping her aggression and Namajunas looks to exchange without either landing cleanly.
Namajunas tries for a takedown, but Blanchfield stuffs it and clinches up, marching her opponent over to the cage.
Blanchfield works a takedown, but Namajunas looks to sweep on top as they hit the mat. Blanchfield does well to prevent that and hold top position though.
Blanchfield in half-guard here and taking her time. Two minutes remaining. Crowd gets impatient due to the lack of activity here. A couple of light punches for Blanchfield. A few more punches for her now as the ref warns her to stay busy. Namajunas doing her best to try to just stay tight and stifle her offensive opportunities. Final seconds of the round and Namajunas manages to get her legs inbetween and push her away.
Round Four:
Blanchfield trying to start the round with active punches. She lands a leg kick. Short flurry of punches from Namajunas.
Head kick attempt from Blanchfield. Jab lands for Namajunas as Blanchfield stepped into range. Leg kick for Blanchfield and then punches behind it.
Jab for Namajunas. Body kick for Blanchfield. Jab for Namajunas, but then Blanchfield manages to get into the clinch and work over to the cage. Namajunas takes her time but then does a good job of circling away.
Left hook for Namajunas. Jab lands clean. Blanchfield works into a takedown, but Namajunas does well to stay upright. Blanchfield works her over to the cage, but she escapes.
Punch lands for Blanchfield. Now a low kick for her as the round ends.
Round Five:
Blanchfield steps in with a punch straight away. Both fighters suddenly exchanging fast punches back and forth. Namajunas tries for a takedown, but Blanchfield denies that.
Right hand from Namajunas. Blanchfield drives into a takedown against the cage. She peels her away from the cage and lands the takedown.
Blanchfield in half-guard in the center of the Octagon. Nice pass to side control for Blanchfield. Light punches to the head from Blanchfield.
Blanchfield gets to crucifix position, but Nammajunas gets back out of that. Blanchfield trying to isolate an armm now. She gives up on that, but continues on in side control. A few punches to the head land. Namajunas trying to scramble, and gets to her knees.
Blanchfield stays tight to her though. Namajunas stands with a minute to go. Blanchfield presses her into the cage.
Blanchfield tries to go for the takedown again, but Namajunas stuffs that, and we’re headed to the judges scorecards.
Decision:
In the early rounds Namajunas was getting the better of the striking exchanges, but as the fight progressed Blanchfield started to have some success working for takedowns and finding periods of control on top, while also keeping the striking exchanges more competitive than before, and that leads her to a unanimous decision victory (48-47 x3).
