Combat Sports

PREVIEW: UFC Fight Night 219

Joshua Gaillard previews UFC Fight Night 219 which is headlined by a cracking Women’s Flyweight bout between Jessica Andrade and Erin Blanchfield.

by
Joshua Gaillard
February 17, 2023

Joshua Gaillard previews UFC Fight Night 219 which is headlined by a cracking Women’s Flyweight bout between Jessica Andrade and Erin Blanchfield.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

We’ve got a cracking Women’s Flyweight bout between Andrade and Blanchfield. A win for either fighter is likely to yield a shot at the flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko.

In the co-main event of the evening, a light heavyweight clash between “The Beverly Hills Ninja” Jordan Wright and the relatively inexperienced Zac Pauga.

Main Event

Jessica Andrade 68/100 vs Erin Blanchfield 21/20

Former UFC strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade, is a scary mixed martial artist stepping in on a week’s notice. Facing her will be Erin Blanchfield. A fighter who many would assume is one fight away from a shot at the title.

This card has taken a few turns – Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen was the initial main event, but that was moved to another card, and Taila Santos was set to face Blanchfield but fell through just a week ago, now here we are.

Jessica Andrade (24-9) has had many ups and downs in her career, and taking this opportunity could set her on a good course. Since losing the chance to capture the flyweight belt from the current queen, Shevchenko back in 2021, the 31-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a three-fight win streak. She has fought the best of the best throughout her career, triumphing on some occasions, but this will be a major turning point for her career as she nears its close.

The up-and-coming Erin Blanchfield (10-1) is not to be underestimated. The 23-year-old New Yorker currently holds a seven-fight win streak and is 4-0 in the UFC. All four of her wins in the UFC have been impressive, but her last two have turned a lot of heads. A standing guillotine ended JJ Aldrich’s resistance, and her most impressive first-round TKO of Molly McCann has made a lasting impression.

Verdict: Erin Blanchfield Win 21/20

Even considering the hype around her as a prospect, Blanchfield’s rise through the ranks has been quite impressive. There is no denying that Andrade will be a tough opponent, but Blanchfield has all the tools to combat her opposite number.

Blanchfield is extremely technical and will do well to avoid big punches and elbows that Andrade has stored in her locker. Win or lose, this fight does should answer plenty of questions about Blanchfield.

Being at physical parity alone does not seem to be much of an issue for the American—she did not show much hesitation in taking over her fight against another athlete in Maverick—but Andrade is one of the few opponents that pairs physical strength with the ability to make Blanchfield pay for any mistakes with some knockout power.

Co-Main Event

Jordan Wright 38/100 vs Zac Pauga 18/10

Jordan Wright’s career in the UFC has not been smooth sailing, but at least it has been entertaining. On the flip side, Zac Pauga is an aged fighter with a shockingly ‘lightweight’ record having fought just six pro fights.

Jordan Wright (12-4) is a karate stylist, and “The Beverly Hills Ninja” crashes into his opponents for in a kill-or-be-killed manner. That mentality earned the 31-year-old two wins in his first three trips to the Octagon, but the situation has gone south since his knockout loss to Bruno Silva at the tail end of 2021. He currently rides a three-fight losing streak, but you can always expect fireworks.

The heavyweight runner-up on Season 30 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Zac Pauga (5-1) is a latecomer to mixed martial arts, starting his pro career at age 32 after a few years in football, but he has looked good as a prospect against a solid level of competition, showing an ability to fight behind either striking or wrestling as the situation dictates. He faces a dicey and unpredictable opponent for his UFC debut.

Verdict: Zac Pauga Win 18/10

Every professional MMA fight Wright has been in has ended via a spectacular finish – win or lose. For Pauga, dictating the pace of the fight will be difficult, as Wright often fights with unexpected flair, but Zac’s counterstriking on The Ultimate Fighter suggests he will have opportunities to end the bout. Wright moving up a weight class will slow him down a little and it could be another early night for the Beverly Hills Ninja.