Erin Blanchfield speaks to Megan Olivi
moments after her primary occasion bout being cancelled.#UFCVegas107
pic.twitter.com/dm58zgPCq6— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ)
June 1, 2025
When promotion govt Hunter Campbell came visiting simply earlier than
walkouts for the UFC
Vegas 107 primary occasion, Erin
Blanchfield had a sense that dangerous information was imminent.
The New Jersey native’s instincts had been right, as Saturday’s
flyweight headliner was scrapped on the final minute attributable to medical
points for Blanchfield’s opponent, Maycee
Barber.
“Hunter got here in and was saying she was having a seizure and having
medical points and he or she wouldn’t be capable to combat,” Blanchfield mentioned
in a backstage interview with Megan Olivi. “I knew as soon as I noticed him
it wasn’t one thing good as a result of he was being actual severe. I really feel
prefer it was a bit of disbelief.
“We already had been informed six minutes to the walkout, we had already
warmed up. I hit pads. I used to be warming up with my coaching associate. I
was actually able to go. I really feel like I might already odor the
cage. I used to be prepared and we simply acquired the information.”
Barber missed weight by 0.5 kilos on Friday, however the nearer the
combat acquired, the extra probably Blanchfield thought it was that the bout
would happen as scheduled. Nonetheless, there was some momentary
confusion on the printed when it turned obvious Barber wasn’t
capable of make the stroll to the Octagon. Shortly thereafter, the combat
was formally canceled.
“I positively thought we had been within the clear,” Blanchfield mentioned. “I
suppose it’s fairly uncommon combat day that someone pulls out.
Particularly [if] they missed weight, they didn’t push tremendous onerous in
the burden reduce. They in all probability recovered effectively. So yeah, I didn’t
anticipate this.”
It’s the second consecutive combat that Barber has exited attributable to
well being points. She additionally pulled out of a proposed conflict in opposition to
Rose
Namajunas at UFC Denver final July — although that withdrawal was
early sufficient to safe a alternative opponent for Namajunas.
As for Blanchfield, she isn’t taken with a rebooking in opposition to
Barber down the highway.
“No, my coaches instantly had been like, ‘Don’t entertain her. She’s
not in your degree,’” Blanchfield mentioned. “Tremendous unprofessional.”
Saturday’s bout was anticipated to propel the winner nearer to a
flyweight title shot, which was evidenced by reigning champion
Valentina
Shevchenko’s look on the post-fight present. Blanchfield
hopes to proceed on that path within the close to future.
“I’d love one other five-rounder in opposition to somebody within the High 5, maintain
working my method towards the title,” she mentioned. “I don’t know precisely
what but. I’ll speak to my supervisor and [Mick Maynard] and determine it
out.”
As for the frustration of Saturday night time, Blanchfield is doing
her greatest to seek out silver linings.
“I suppose I can simply take what I discovered from my coaching camp and
attempt to construct upon that for my subsequent combat,” she mentioned. “I principally
did the whole lot apart from get within the cage tonight. I can nonetheless develop
from that.”
