Erin Blanchfield On Valentina Shevchenko: 'I Want To Be The One To Take Her Title'

Congratulations on the biggest win of your career so far I would say. I guess what's the emotions right now? You know I'm feeling really good right now. Yeah just super pumped about it. Obviously you know a big opportunity main event. Talk to you about the feeling tight. Did it feel any different going in or ahead of the fight on fight day than it did for your other ones? You know not too different. Definitely a little bit more media.

Waiting in the locker room a little bit longer. Walkouts a little bit longer. But nothing crazy. It's you know I kind of knew what to expect. I mean I've been a fan of the UFC forever and I've been involved with the UFC for a little bit so I knew what was coming. We know both of you right? You're a great grappling specialist. Well rounded but a great grappler.

She's obviously heavy-handed. That opening round you struck more than I think that we thought you would. Did you plan on on spending that much time in the stand-up department? You know I mean every fight starts standing so I had a strike and wait to find my takedowns. I did shoot like one or two and they didn't work out so I had to stay standing and I felt comfortable there. I mean she hits hard but I was hitting her too and yes I had to work my game and wait for my opportunity. Did her takedown defense because as you said she did a defender. Did it surprise you at all? No I mean she's a former champ and number three in the weight class so it's like I know I was gonna have to work for those that first one or two might not work but the third one does so that's yeah I knew that going in.

Nice so you hit the inside trip immediately to side control. I mean do you know when you're in that position like at that point I think I'm gonna get this were you baiting her to give you the back or just kind of what's going through your mind at that point? Yeah when I was in that clinch with her I felt my overhook was super heavy so that inside trip was there and then I got her down and she gave up the back right away trying to get up so that joke was right there. And when she had locked in she was trying to posture out of it obviously but I mean were you in any danger slipping off or did you know once it was in like this is done? Oh no it was she didn't defend it at all I sunk the joke right in and I knew even if she stood up she was gonna pass out if she did. And call for the title shot afterwards right I mean there's an argument to be made you just be the former champion but was that was that something kind of intended coming in or was that spur of the moment you thought yeah hell with it let's go for the title shot. No you know I always try to think of what I want to say after a win because you know it could be very emotional and you'd be a little cloudy but I knew beating someone like her especially if I finished her that I could deserve that title next. And is it a situation where like you'll hold out for that or I mean if the USC says no we don't think you're ready quite yet let's give you that you're okay with that? Yeah I'm definitely okay with fighting again you know I think I I think the title because the title fights in two weeks so I think it can line up perfectly but if they want me to fight again I'll gain more experience. And last thing for me I mean you got a taste of I guess what the future is gonna hold for you you hope you know this week the added interviews the added media everything like that what did you think of this week's experience and is it exciting is it a little overwhelming what did you think about the whole process? Oh no I love the experience I love what I do and yeah I soaked it all in I love it.

And walking away with a bonus as well that you know that you got the performance tonight and did you ever think that when coming in this fight that you would not only get the win but also be so dominant that you get a performance bonus? Oh absolutely I mean I go into every fight with the intention of finishing and I know finishes get bonuses. How do you you have plans is the money already spent or are you gonna you're gonna save it what are you gonna do with it? I'm putting in the bank for now save it and try to be smart. That's very exciting answer by the way. You know you when you lock that in you got when you got under the chin could you immediately tell that that was it and did you think that she would have a better chance that sort of fight that off and are you surprised that she didn't get a chance to fight that off? No and I got my arm around her neck and I had my hands connected I knew she had no chance she she had to defend much earlier of the second she felt my hand coming in and she didn't and there was no danger of me slipping off once I had that and I was like oh this fight's over. Obviously there were so many points that you shined in the fight is there any particular point besides the finish that you're the most proud of of the performance out there? You know I have to watch it over but I know I definitely gained some experience on the in the striking and I think listening to my coaches too I was able to hear them and I feel like I was listening and between rounds listening to them so yeah I think just getting experience overall. And everyone always talks about her power her striking when it was actually starting to come to you how did that feel and are you are you proud of how you were able to sort of interpret her striking and negate it? Yeah no I mean she definitely hits very hard you know I feel like I was doing a pretty decent job I was definitely hitting her back I was trying to stay light on my feet try to stay stay long and when she comes in heavy clinch yes I was just trying to work my game. Well she is powerful as you thought she as you thought she would be or is that you heard stories of? Yeah I mean she she hit pretty hard and I never felt rocked I knew I wouldn't want to eat too many of them and you never know the one that you don't see could definitely put you away so yeah she definitely hits pretty hard.

Congrats on victory. Thank you. Hey Erin it seems like only a few months ago I was writing about you saying that you were the well one of the breakup performances performers of the last 12 months and now here you are kind of finishing one of the toughest female fighters in the UFC could that have gone any better for you? No not really I feel like I had the fight that I wanted to have. Was there a turning point in the fight or in the first round where you knew you kind of had the fight won? No I mean the first round I knew was competitive and close I didn't feel like I had the fight one completely until I had my arm around her neck. This rapid trajectory that you're on is kind of reminiscent of Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya the way you're kind of just setting a whole division ablaze and slaying names was this how you played it out in your head all along to come and just fuck shit up in 15 18 months? You know I knew I always could I feel like I don't really necessarily put those expectations on myself but I always put the expectation to win that next fight and I know that doing that is what leads to this so I think keeping that mindset is what helped me do exactly what I'm doing. The year's young but that was one of the biggest statements of 2023 so far congrats. Thank you.

You called for the winner of Alexa Grasso and Valentina is there one that you would prefer? I would definitely prefer Shepchenko you know I think she beats Grasso I think Grasso is a very tough fighter but I want to be that one to take the title from her.

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