Jasmine Jasudavicius came out hot against Erin Blanchfield in the UFC Edmonton co-main event Saturday night at Rogers Place. Aaron Bronsteter had it “10-9 Jasudavicius after R1” on X, adding “Very impressive round” for a Canadian who has now given the home crowd something to scream about early in a fight that could reshape the flyweight contender line.
The walkout did its part too. Jasudavicius came out to La Bamba, which Sportsnet flagged on X. Bronsteter pointed out that “Jasmine has had good luck with this walkout in Edmonton.” She used the same song the last time she fought in this city, when she beat Ariane da Silva. I’ve seen fighters ride worse superstitions. I’ve bet on worse ones.
The UFC billed it as a “Top 10 Showdown,” and the rankings back that up. MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings have Blanchfield at No. 5 at flyweight and No. 9 pound-for-pound, while Jasudavicius sits at No. 9 at flyweight and No. 19 pound-for-pound. Both came in with matching form, four wins in their past five fights. Both made weight with room to spare for the non-title bout, with Blanchfield at 125 pounds and Jasudavicius at 124.5, under the 126-pound limit.
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Blanchfield is the more decorated of the two on paper. The former Invicta FC blue-chip prospect has lost just once in the UFC, and her grappling is what opponents lose sleep over. Jasudavicius arrived with a bit of extra baggage. MMA Fighting reported earlier this week that she was in disbelief after being fined $10,000 for an alleged dip in her UFC Winnipeg fight.
The title math is messy. Natalia Silva holds the belt, and MMA Fighting’s preview noted that Valentina Shevchenko presumably gets first crack at reclaiming it whenever she’s ready to return. If Shevchenko sits too long, the winner here could jump the line. A dominant enough performance might also let the winner simply wait for Silva vs. Shevchenko. MMA Fighting’s prediction went with Blanchfield, forecasting early takedowns and a second-round submission that would make her the first woman to tap Jasudavicius.
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The co-main sits ahead of the Joaquin Buckley vs. Mike Malott welterweight headliner. Earlier on the main card, Cristian Perez flattened Kyle Nelson in 27 seconds, Marc-Andre Barriault stopped Kyle Daukaus at 4:28 of Round 1, Timmy Cuamba choked out Louis Jourdain with a neck crank and Mandel Nallo finished Nate Landwehr 47 seconds into Round 2.
My quick take: one round is one round, and anybody who just slammed a live bet on the Canadian because of a Ritchie Valens song deserves whatever happens next. Blanchfield’s whole game is built on wearing people down, so a lost opening frame doesn’t scare me much on her behalf. What would worry me is if Jasudavicius keeps the pace that had Bronsteter praising her at 1:56 a.m. GMT. If Blanchfield can’t get her takedowns working in Round 2, the pick everybody made in the previews starts looking like the bad parlay leg I always seem to own.
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