Manon Fiorot established herself as a clear title contender in the main event of UFC On ESPN 54 tonight by comfortably outstriking Erin Blanchfield for 25 minutes to win by unanimous decision and extend her UFC winning streak to seven fights.
Round One:
The flyweight main event is underway in Atlantic City!
Kick to the thigh from Blanchfield to start. Body kick from Blanchfield but gets a right hook from Fiorot.
Punches from Fiorot. Now a body kick. Fiorot ducks into a body lock and lands a slamming takedown with authority, but Blanchfield threatens immediately with a guillotine.
Blanchfield now using this to try to work her way on top and they go back to the feet as she still tries to work the choke. Fiorot able to get free in the end though and they go back to striking range.
Blanchfield stepping into range, but Fiorot’s straight punches are there to meet her. That happens again as Fiorot makes the most of her boxing ability to thwart Blanchfield’s attempts to close the distance.
Every time Blanchfield gets into range she’s eating a punch. Blanchfield tries a head kick that doesn’t pay off.
Final 30 seconds and Blanchfield blitzes with a nice series of punches that land then gets into the clinch against the cage. Fiorot reverse the position, but then Blanchfield does likewise. Fiorot again gains the upperhand and throws a few punches as the round ends.
Round Two:
jabs from Fiorot. Another jab for her. Fiorot overcommits to a punch and that provides an opportunity for a clean entry and trips Fiorot to the mat. Fiorot immediately to work right back up though.
Back to striking range. Blanchfield able to get in to get the body lock again, but not able to do anything with it, so they are soon back to striking.
Both fighters kick to the leg. Right hook from Fiorot. Blanchfield rushes into range and goes right into a straight punch from Fiorot.
Leg kick for Blanchfield. She comes up short with a flurry of punches. Clinch position now and they break away with Fiorot landing a body kick.
Body kick for Blanchfield now. Knee to the body from Fiorot. Jab for Fiorot. Now a cuffing right hook from her. Side kick to the body for Fiorot. Blanchfield charges into range to get the body lock then throws a kick as Fiorot breaks free.
Glancing right hook from Fiorot. Blanchfield really struggling to get into the striking battle here due to her inability to close distance effectively.
Round Three:
Blanchfield with a flurry of punches. Side kick to the body from Fiorot. jabs exchanged. Blanchfield in on a body lock, but Fiorot just shoves her away.
Jab for Fiorot. Body kick from Blanchfield. One-two down the pipe for Fiorot. Another two-piece lands for her.
Now a right hook for Fiorot. Fiorot clinches up but not for long. Body punch from Fiorot. Head kick attempt from Blanchfield is blocked.
Blanchfield still trying to press forward with flurries, but she’s just not getting anything meaningful going and now she has a little blood trickling from near her right eye.
Knee to the body on the inside from Blanchfield. Head kick attempt from Fiorot is blocked. Straight punches for her. She misses on an uppercut attempt as Blanchfield was rushing in. Now a nice knee to the body from her.
Round Four:
A couple of punches land for Fiorot. Body kick from Blanchfield. Side kick to the leg for Fiorot. Another body kick from Blanchfield. She’s trying to keep the fight at close range here, but Fiorot is still finding her an easy target for her straight punches.
The only thing in Blanchfield’s favor is that she’s just deterred no matter how much he gets hit and she’s becoming increasingly aggressive now, walking through punches to land her own. She is getting through with a few punches, but she’s still taking ones in return every time.
Blanchfield does get into a takedown opportunity but Fiorot easily stuffs it. Fiorot sticks the jab. Blanchfield gets through with a punch. Body kick from her.
Body kick for Blanchfield. One-two for Fiorot. Missed punches but a kick that lands for Blanchfield. A couple of leg kicks for Blanchfield now. More straight punches from Fiorot.
Body kick for Blanchfield. Head kick attempt from Fiorot. Fiorot thinks about clinching but then backs up.
Round Five:
Jab working for Fiorot straight away. Head kick from Blanchfield lands but not with big impact. A definite confidence-booster for her though.
Fiorot lands a hook. Blanchfield with a body kick but gets knocked off-balance. Another counter-hook from Fiorot.
Solid punches down the pipe for Fiorot. Another one-two. Body kick for Blanchfield. Side kick to the body for Fiorot. Now one to the leg.
One-two for Blanchfield. She tries a high kick. One-two for Fiorot. Short flurry of punches land for Blanchfield. Grazing hook from Fiorot. Blanchfield tries a head kick but it’s blocked.
Solid punch from Fiorot. Blanchfield clinches up and presses Fiorot up against the cage. We’re in the final minute of the fight though. They break apart and now Fiorot lands a jumping knee to the body.
Head kick attempt from Blanchfield misses. Fiorot with back-to-back head kicks that miss.
Decision:
No doubt about the winner here then with Fiorot comfortable using her size to her advantage by working on the outside with crisp boxing to stop a game Blanchfield from getting anything significant going on the feet or managing to get the fight to the mat. Fiorot wins a clean sweep unanimous decision. (50-45 x3).
