Jasmine Jasudavicius Pulls Off Major Upset Over Erin Blanchfield at UFC Edmonton
Canada's Jasmine Jasudavicius beat the grappler at her own game to derail Blanchfield's title hopes.
Jasmine Jasudavicius pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year on Saturday night, defeating Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in the co-main event of UFC Edmonton at Rogers Place.
Jasudavicius (16-4) beat the highly ranked flyweight contender at her own game, controlling the first two rounds with takedowns and submission attempts. Blanchfield (14-3) had been widely considered one of the best grapplers in the women's flyweight division, but the Canadian veteran neutralized that advantage completely.
The two grapplers began the fight by boxing before Jasudavicius started working her takedowns, per Sherdog. She maintained top control and threatened with submissions through the first two rounds, building a clear lead on the scorecards.
Blanchfield rallied in the third round and showed the talent that had made her a title contender, but it was too little too late. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of the Canadian.
The result derails what had been a potential title shot for Blanchfield, who entered the bout on the short list of contenders at 125 pounds. For Jasudavicius, fighting in front of her home country crowd, it was the biggest win of her career and a result that reshuffles the flyweight landscape.
This is the kind of result that reminds you why they fight the fights. Blanchfield was supposed to be on the fast track to a title shot. Jasudavicius was supposed to be the hometown opponent who made for a good story on the way there. Instead, the Canadian outworked one of the best grapplers in the division on the ground.
Jasudavicius did what great underdogs do: she made it ugly, she made it physical, and she refused to let Blanchfield get comfortable. Two rounds of takedowns and top control turned a 29-28 that nobody saw coming.
Blanchfield is young enough to bounce back, but she has to be asking hard questions tonight. The flyweight division is deep, and a loss like this sends you back to the line.
