Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield 2/18/2023 Expert Picks and Betting Tips
Get ready fight fans, as the highly anticipated UFC Fight Night 219 headliner is just around the corner. The once victorious Eddie Bravo Invitational champ, Erin Blanchfield, is set to go head-to-head with none other than former Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight titleholder Jessica Andrade at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this Saturday. Blanchfield has been on fire lately, entering the cage with an impressive seven-fight winning streak. Her most recent victory was at UFC 281, where she took down Molly McCann with a kimura in just the second round of their Nov. 12 bout.
As for Andrade, this fierce fighter stepped up as a short-notice replacement for Taila Santos and has since won three consecutive fights. The Parana Vale Tudo cornerstone’s latest victory was a woefully one-sided three-round unanimous decision at UFC 283, where she completely dominated Lauren Murphy on Jan. 21. With both fighters in top form, this highly anticipated headliner is sure to be one for the books!
In the upcoming bout, former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade will be striving to improve her 24-9-0 fight record. At 125 pounds and 5’1″, the orthodox fighter boasts a 62″ reach. Her opponent, Erin “Cold Blooded” Blanchfield, weighs in at the same weight and measures 5’4″ with a 66″ reach. With a record of 10-1-0, the 23-year-old Blanchfield enters the match brimming with confidence. When it comes to landing significant strikes, Andrade averages 6.80 per minute, while Blanchfield has a rate of 5.79. However, Blanchfield lands a higher percentage of her attempted strikes at 57%, compared to Andrade’s 51%. In terms of defense, Andrade absorbs 5.26 significant strikes per minute, while Blanchfield only takes 2.45. Andrade has a significant strike defense rate of 54%, while Blanchfield defends against 61% of her opponent’s strikes.
Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield 2/18/2023 Expert Picks and Betting Tips
Erin Blanchfield has won her last seven fights, with three victories by submission, two by knockout or technical knockout, and five by decision. Her last fight at UFC 281 saw her dispose of Molly McCann with a kimura in the second round. On the other hand, Andrade is a well-rounded fighter with 24 career wins, including nine by knockout or technical knockout, eight by submission, and seven by decision. She was a late replacement for Taila Santos and has won her last three fights, with her most recent victory being a one-sided three-round unanimous decision against Lauren Murphy at UFC 283.
The outcome of the fight will depend on several factors, including each fighter’s game plan, physical conditioning, and ability to execute their techniques under pressure. Andrade’s experience and proven track record at the highest levels of the sport make her the favored fighter to win the matchup against Blanchfield. However, with Blanchfield’s striking ability and submission skills, she will provide a tough challenge for Andrade.
The fight has the potential to be very competitive and exciting, with both fighters looking to make a statement in the flyweight division. It will be interesting to see how it plays out and who comes out on top. Although Andrade is a late replacement, it will be fascinating to watch her performance in this bout. Blanchfield, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain her undefeated record in the UFC and continue her rise up the rankings in the flyweight division.
Finally, some statistics and numbers of both fighters were highlighted. Blanchfield is 23 years old and has landed 120 significant strikes in her three-round unanimous decision over Sarah Alpar at UFC Fight Night 192 on Sept. 18, 2021. In contrast, Andrade is 31 years old and has completed 42 rounds across her 33 professional appearances, going the distance on ten different occasions.
In spite of her impressive record on the feet, ‘Bate Estaca’ has proven to be vulnerable in striking exchanges. Her knockout loss to Weili Zhang in their 2019 title bout is a testament to this, as are her out striking losses to Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. In comparison, Blanchfield has yet to demonstrate the knockout power of Zhang or the speedy jabs of Namajunas or Jedrzejczyk, making it less likely that she can repeat their success against Andrade.
Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield. Andrade is taking this fight on short notice, and even though she is only 31 years old, she will have been fighting in the octagon for a decade by 2023. She has also been defeated on the ground before, and she may not have enough time to prepare for Blanchfield’s takedowns and ground control. This is a challenging fight to predict, particularly as Andrade presents a different challenge than Santos. However, Blanchfield has had ample time to prepare for this fight, which could make a significant difference. Therefore, the prediction is that Blanchfield will win by a late TKO.
- Date: Saturday, February 18
- Main card: 7 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. CET (Sunday)
- Main event ring walks (approx): 10 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. CET (Sunday)
