5 fights to make after UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot

The latest Fight Night event of the UFC was held in Atlantic City last night, and the audience had the opportunity to witness the crowning of two new title contenders.

The main event of UFC Fight Night between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot potentially revealed a contender for the title, and in the co-main event, another fighter broke into the top fifteen rankings.

What lies ahead for these fighters and the other notable names who secured impressive victories at last night’s event? Here are five potential matchups to consider following UFC Fight Night: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot.

#5. Exciting Featherweight Matchup: Kyle Nelson vs. Nate Landwehr

Last night’s two most thrilling fights featured featherweights Nate Landwehr and Kyle Nelson, both of whom secured impressive victories.

After both men began the fight by throwing wild haymakers, Nelson emerged victorious over Bill Algeo in a chaotic brawl. Additionally, Landwehr made a remarkable comeback to knock out Jamall Emmers.

Despite neither fighter being able to contend in the 145-pound division in the near future, their consistent and exciting performances make them extremely valuable assets for the UFC, especially for smaller Fight Night events.

As a result, it is only logical for the promotion to schedule them to fight on the main card of an upcoming Fight Night, anticipating an intense showdown. Judging from their performance last night, they would likely secure a Fight of the Night accolade.

#4. Highly Anticipated Middleweight Showdown: Chris Weidman vs. Gerald Meerschaert

Despite facing plenty of controversy, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman emerged victorious in his first fight since 2020 last night.

Initially, ‘The All-American’ was declared the winner by TKO against Bruno Silva, but upon further review, the victory was changed to a technical decision due to evidence of an eye poke causing the stoppage.

Despite the possibility of the matchmakers arranging a rematch between Weidman and ‘Blindado’, it would ultimately serve little purpose. Weidman’s dominant performance last night, despite any accidental eye pokes, solidified his status as the superior fighter.

Hence, in order to keep going, Gerald Meerschaert could be a more suitable adversary for the ex-champion. At 36 years old, the experienced fighter poses a threat but is not known for his endurance, and he recently secured a victory against Bryan Barberena.

Weidman is currently focused on securing back-to-back wins, so facing ‘GM3’ would provide a formidable but manageable challenge. While it may not be an exciting matchup for the former champion, it would be a logical choice.

#3. UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Erin Blanchfield or Alexa Grasso

Despite being on the brink of a potential shot at the UFC flyweight title, Erin Blanchfield was unexpectedly defeated last night by Manon Fiorot.

Despite her best efforts, ‘Cold Blooded’ struggled to find a rhythm in the five-round bout as Fiorot’s precise striking kept her at bay. This prevented her from effectively utilizing her formidable ground game.

Despite revealing a weakness in her overall skill set, Blanchfield still has time to recover as she is young. As such, a potential match-up for her could be against the defeated opponent of the upcoming title fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.

While ‘Cold Blooded’ may have to wait until September, this gives Blanchfield ample time to improve after this defeat and potentially have a better performance.

It would be logical for her to pursue this path as it could potentially earn her a title shot in 2025.

#2. UFC Welterweight Showdown: Joaquin Buckley vs. Gilbert Burns

Joaquin Buckley was undoubtedly the fighter who made the most significant progress last night. He achieved his third consecutive victory at 170 pounds, and his victory over the No.11 ranked Vicente Luque should secure him a spot in the top-15 rankings next week.

Despite his previous struggles as a middleweight, ‘New Mansa’ has shown great potential in the welterweight division and could possibly become a legitimate title contender.

It is clear that the UFC should pair him against another potential contender in his next fight, and Gilbert Burns is one fighter who would certainly make sense.

‘Durinho’ used to be a title contender, however, he has recently experienced two consecutive losses and suffered a devastating TKO defeat by Jack Della Maddalena in his most recent fight.

While Buckley would face a tough opponent, it could be a significant opportunity for him to prove himself against higher-level competition. Despite being in the later stages of his career, a victory over this experienced fighter would be a major accomplishment for ‘New Mansa’.

Ultimately, in the UFC, one cannot reap the rewards without taking risks, making this potential victory a significant achievement for Buckley.

#1. Potential UFC Flyweight Championship Matchup: Grasso or Shevchenko vs. Fiorot

The main event of last night featured a matchup between two unbeaten fighters in the octagon, with the potential for a flyweight championship opportunity on the horizon.

Eventually, Manon Fiorot emerged victorious. She systematically dismantled Erin Blanchfield with her long-range strikes, preventing ‘Cold Blooded’ from establishing a rhythm. Staying upright for the majority of the match, Fiorot easily secured a five-round victory.

Despite her logical positioning for a title shot, there is a slight complication. The reigning champion, Alexa Grasso, is scheduled to defend her title against former champion Valentina Shevchenko in their third fight, but this is not expected to take place until September.

Despite the layoff, it is probable that ‘The Beast’ will not be bothered. It is improbable that anyone will surpass her in the meantime, and ultimately, she has rightfully earned a chance and is deserving of a break.

Hence, it is possible that the UFC will start their 2025 season with this championship fight.