UFC Fight Night 219 results: Erin Blanchfield shines, submits Jessica Andrade and calls for title shot

When the lights shined the brightest of her entire career, so did Erin Blanchfield.

In the UFC Fight Night 219 main event Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Blanchfield (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) took a step up in competition and submitted former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade (24-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) with a rear-naked choke at the 1:37 mark of Round 2.

The bout was Blanchfield’s first main event and first time fighting the upper-echelon of the women’s flyweight division. Despite the stage, Blanchfield seemed unfazed by the attention.

In the opening minutes, she dispelled the notion by some analysts the bout strictly was a striker vs. grappler matchup. Blanchfield utilized her jab and tagged Andrade with her boxing. By the end of the round, Andrade returned some hard punches of her own, but her feeling out process took a little longer.

Blanchfield was busted by an Andrade combination in Round 2. Shortly thereafter, Blanchfield dragged the fight to the ground and immediately hopped to side control. Andrade rolled to her stomach and exposed her back, which Blanchfield gladly took. Blanchfield snatched her opponent’s neck and got the tap after she flattened the hips.

BLANCHFIELD GETS THE SUBMISSION OVER ANDRADE #UFCVEGAS69 pic.twitter.com/GkHJosJuqX

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 19, 2023

23-year-old Erin Blanchfield has her eyes set on women's flyweight gold #UFCVegas69 pic.twitter.com/Niwm1e9AGu

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 19, 2023

Blanchfield, 23, largely has remained indifferent throughout her career when it comes to opponents and matchups. However, in her biggest in-cage interview to date, Blanchfield called for a title shot against the winner of champion Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso, a bout scheduled for March 4 at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.

“I’m going to win the title and become UFC champion,” Blanchfield said.

With the victory, Blanchfield now has won all five of her UFC bouts, including three by submission. Andrade, who took the fight on 15 days’ notice, had a three-fight winning streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 219 results include:

• Erin Blanchfield def. Jessica Andrade via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2,
• Zac Pauga def. Jordan Wright via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jamal Pogues def. Josh Parisian via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Marcin Prachnio def. William Knight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Alexander Hernandez def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Nazim Sadykhov def. Evan Elder via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 0:38
• Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Lina Lansberg via submission (kneebar) – Round 2, 4:45
• Jamall Emmers def. Khusein Askhabov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Philipe Lins def. Ovince Saint Preux via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:49
• A.J. Fletcher def. Themba Takura Gorimbo via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:37
• Clayton Carpenter def. Juancamilo Ronderos via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:13

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 219.