5 best moments from UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot

Last night, the UFC traveled to Atlantic City for its most recent Fight Night event, and the evening proved to be entertaining with many enjoyable moments.

What were the highlights of UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot with its variety of entertaining outcomes to select from?

As expected, a few moments shone brighter than the others, leaving a lasting impact. Here are the top five standout moments from UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot.

#5. The NJSAC makes the correct call in the Chris Weidman vs. Bruno Silva bout

During his fight with Bruno Silva last night, it seemed as though former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was able to tap into his past skills. His striking was on point and he managed to avoid any major blows. Furthermore, he was able to inflict damage on his opponent multiple times.

As Silva fell to the ground after what appeared to be a quick counterpunch in the third round, it seemed that Weidman had secured his first knockout victory since 2015.

Despite the controversy surrounding it, a replay of the fight revealed that ‘Blindado’ had fallen due to a severe eye poke instead of a punch. This was not the first time Weidman had committed this foul during the match, as it was his third offense.

At that point, it would have been simple for the New Jersey State Athletic Commission to alter the referee’s decision and disqualify ‘The All-American’, depriving him of his first victory in quite a while.

Despite initial doubts, the more rational minds ultimately made the final decision. Instead of opting for a disqualification or a no contest, it was agreed upon that the outcome of the fight would be determined by the scorecards with a mere two minutes remaining, granting Weidman a victory by decision.

As a result, this match was a thrilling display of an ageing legend’s victory and a testament to the wise decision made by the officials, making it one of the highlights of the night.

#4. Manon Fiorot rises as a top contender in the UFC’s flyweight division

Despite not having a violent finish, last night’s headline bout produced a new top contender at 125 pounds for the UFC.

Manon Fiorot put on an outstanding display over the course of five rounds, ultimately outscoring Erin Blanchfield and extending her undefeated streak in the octagon. Meanwhile, she also put an end to ‘Cold Blooded’s’ seven-fight winning streak.

Despite Blanchfield’s early guillotine choke attempt, Fiorot was able to regain control with her precise striking from a distance. ‘Cold Blooded’ struggled to find her rhythm and while she was never in danger of being finished, it became evident by the fourth round that the fight was slipping away from her.

Despite throwing more haymakers in the later rounds, it was ultimately too little, too late for her. However, Fiorot’s consistent use of jabs and kicks kept her out of harm’s way, resulting in a clear-cut decision victory for ‘The Beast’.

Is it possible for the Frenchwoman to defeat either Alexa Grasso or Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title? Her striking abilities make it a strong possibility. Hopefully, the UFC will provide her with an opportunity in the near future, as her undefeated record of 6-0 has certainly proven her deserving of it.

#3. Kyle Nelson continues impressive streak with TKO victory over Bill Algeo

Despite potentially disappointing fans in Atlantic City, Kyle Nelson’s forceful defeat of popular fighter Bill Algeo was undeniably one of the most memorable moments of the evening.

At the beginning of their featherweight match, the two fighters chose to disregard caution and were willing to exchange powerful blows without much concern for their defense. However, it was evident that Nelson had a stronger chin, and as the first round progressed, ‘The Monster’ started to dominate.

Although his punches lacked technical finesse, the announcers likened them to a lumberjack chopping wood. Nevertheless, they were still highly effective, causing Algeo to do the infamous ‘chicken dance’ throughout the octagon.

Ultimately, the fight was ended by referee Gary Copeland with a standing TKO call, securing Nelson’s third consecutive victory in the UFC. While he may not be vying for the featherweight championship in the near future, his entertaining style guarantees he will always be a crowd-pleasing fighter.

#2. Nate Landwehr proves his status as one of the UFC’s top action fighters

The UFC’s marketing strategy revolves around showcasing matchups between the top fighters in the world. However, the promotion’s popularity also stems from the exhilarating performances of athletes who may not possess the highest level of skill, but are rather the most entertaining to watch.

Nate Landwehr is a fighter who stands out among many. ‘The Train’ has been a member of the roster for four years and has earned a reputation similar to that of Drew Dober and Tai Tuivasa as an authentic action hero.

Despite not receiving the ‘Fight of the Night’ award, last night was no exception as his bout with Jamall Emmers was undoubtedly the standout performance. In the beginning, Emmers’ precise strikes had ‘The Train’ in trouble, delivering a powerful right hand that caused significant damage early on.

Despite being left bloodied and stunned, Landwehr refused to be defeated. As the fight progressed, he slowly regained his strength. ‘The Train’ initiated a close-quarters brawl, causing Emmers to appear to weaken.

Despite the expectations of few fans, Landwehr delivered a sudden and brutal ending as he landed a devastating uppercut that dropped Emmers. Shortly after, he finished him off with a fierce attack.

Despite Emmers’ disappointment at not receiving a $50k bonus, Landwehr was fortunately awarded a performance bonus, further solidifying his reputation as an exciting fighter with his fourth bonus in his UFC career.

#1. Joaquin Buckley’s Stunning Knockout Propels Him to the Top of the UFC’s Welterweight Division

At last night’s show, the most memorable moment was when Joaquin Buckley impressively defeated seasoned contender Vicente Luque and secured a spot in the UFC’s top-15 at 170 pounds.

Despite his highlight reel knockout of Impa Kasanganay in 2020, Buckley faced his toughest challenge yet in Luque during his two-fight winning streak since transitioning to welterweight. Fortunately, ‘New Mansa’ passed this test with flying colours.

Following a lackluster first round, he gained dominance with powerful striking and ultimately, ‘The Silent Assassin’ opted to pull guard.

Despite Luque’s typically amicable demeanor towards trading with opponents, his decision to do so was strange and it ultimately cost him. Buckley demonstrated no apprehension in his position, opting instead to unleash heavy strikes on the Brazilian fighter. As a result, Luque gradually succumbed to the relentless assault.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to maintain control over ‘New Mansa’. As the end drew near, Buckley unleashed a barrage of powerful and precise punches, ultimately forcing a stoppage.

From his current performance, it appears that Buckley is in top form and poses a threat to any opponent in the 170-pound weight class. It would be beneficial for the UFC to pair him up with another highly ranked contender in his next fight, as he has the potential to challenge for the title. Undoubtedly, his victory was the highlight of the night.