Jasudavicius vs Blanchfield results: Ground control wins

Jasmine Jasudavicius defeated Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, using five takedowns and nearly eight minutes of control time to earn three 29-28 scorecards, according to ESPN. The win strengthens Jasudavicius' case among the women's flyweight contenders: Blanchfield entered third in ESPN's divisional rankings.

Both women came in with reputations as elite grapplers, but Jasudavicius made Blanchfield spend much of the fight defending rather than building her own submission attacks. Our read: that's the strongest part of her argument for a bigger assignment, even if a title shot doesn't follow immediately.

Jasudavicius vs Blanchfield results and scorecards

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Jasudavicius, ESPN reports. The victory improved her record to 16-4 and gave her a second straight win, while Blanchfield fell to 14-3 and had her two-fight winning streak stopped.

The key fight stats, as reported by ESPN, explain why the significant-strike totals alone don't tell the story:

• Scorecards: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 for Jasudavicius.
• Jasudavicius takedowns: Five.
• Jasudavicius control time: Nearly eight minutes.
• Significant strikes: Blanchfield led 62-43.
• Submission pressure: Jasudavicius threatened submissions from dominant positions for long stretches of the first two rounds.

Those numbers describe different kinds of success. Blanchfield landed more significant strikes, but Jasudavicius repeatedly got the fight to the ground and forced her opponent to defend submission threats. In our view, neither the striking totals nor the control time tells the whole story on its own.

How did Jasudavicius control Blanchfield on the ground?

According to ESPN, Jasudavicius repeatedly took Blanchfield down and threatened submissions from dominant positions during extended stretches of the opening two rounds. This was attacking work, not just time spent holding an opponent down.

Our read is that Jasudavicius' biggest achievement was forcing a dangerous grappler to defend. Blanchfield entered with five UFC submission wins, yet ESPN reports that she never got her own ground game going.

“I love grappling,” Jasudavicius said afterward, according to ESPN. “I understand it. I'm pretty good at it. And I like to show what I've got.”

She backed that up against an opponent whose own grappling credentials made this a meaningful test. The repeated takedowns, dominant positions and sustained submission pressure made this an impressive performance in our view.

Does this put Jasudavicius in the title picture?

In our view, it strengthens her case substantially. Jasudavicius entered eighth in ESPN's women's flyweight rankings and beat its third-ranked fighter, who also sat ninth in ESPN's women's pound-for-pound top 10. Those are ESPN rankings, not official UFC rankings, but they show the standing of the opponent she defeated.

The division also has other contenders to consider. According to ESPN, Natalia Silva became champion two weeks before this event, while injured former two-time champion Valentina Shevchenko remains part of the title picture. Our view is that beating Blanchfield makes Jasudavicius harder to pass over, but it doesn't remove everyone else from the discussion.

Jasudavicius has a specific target. Silva defeated her by decision in 2022, in Jasudavicius' second UFC appearance. After the Blanchfield win, Jasudavicius said, according to ESPN: “I want to cross paths with Natalia Silva again.”

That history adds interest to a potential rematch. Still, our read is that the result earns Jasudavicius a stronger title argument, not a guaranteed booking. ESPN's report likewise cautions that an immediate championship opportunity might not follow.

What does the defeat mean for Blanchfield?

Blanchfield's striking output is a useful reminder not to turn a unanimous decision into a claim that she did nothing well. She outlanded Jasudavicius 62-43 in significant strikes, according to ESPN. But that advantage didn't prevent Jasudavicius from controlling the ground exchanges.

We think the next assessment of Blanchfield should focus on whether she can stop that pattern from repeating. Her five UFC submissions remain evidence of her attacking ability, but this defeat shows why that record alone can't settle a grappling matchup.

One loss also doesn't tell us every future opponent can reproduce what Jasudavicius did. Our read is narrower: against this opponent, Blanchfield couldn't turn the ground exchanges into her own source of offence. That's the issue to examine next, rather than dismissing her skills after one defeat.

Jasmine Jasudavicius next fight: What should fans watch?

The reporting does not confirm a next opponent for Jasudavicius. Until there's a booking, we'd focus on the matchup questions rather than assume her preferred Silva rematch is happening.

For Jasudavicius, we'd first examine the next opponent's takedown defence and ability to escape bad positions. Five takedowns and nearly eight minutes of control against Blanchfield are persuasive, but we'd want to know how she matches up with someone who can deny that route. How would she fare without extended ground control?

If Silva is next, the 2022 decision should be part of that assessment, not the whole of it. We think this Blanchfield performance deserves consideration alongside their earlier meeting. News of Shevchenko's recovery would also be worth watching, though the reporting gives no return timetable.

For Blanchfield's next matchup, we'd look for evidence that she can defend repeated takedowns and create her own attacks on the floor. For more from the blog, visit our track record and today's picks.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Erin Blanchfield?

Jasmine Jasudavicius defeated Erin Blanchfield by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Edmonton. According to ESPN, the victory improved Jasudavicius' record to 16-4 and ended Blanchfield's two-fight winning streak.

What were the Jasudavicius vs Blanchfield scorecards?

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Jasudavicius, according to ESPN. Jasudavicius recorded five takedowns and nearly eight minutes of control time.

What were the key Jasudavicius vs Blanchfield fight stats?

ESPN reports that Blanchfield led 62-43 in significant strikes. Jasudavicius recorded five takedowns, accumulated nearly eight minutes of control and threatened submissions from dominant positions for long stretches of the first two rounds.

Who does Jasmine Jasudavicius want to fight next?

Jasudavicius called for another meeting with flyweight champion Natalia Silva, according to ESPN. Silva defeated her by decision in 2022, but the reporting does not confirm a rematch booking.

Sources: Jasmine Jasudavicius outpoints Erin Blanchfield at UFC Fight Night (ESPN) · UFC Edmonton results: Jasmine Jasudavicius upsets Erin Blanchfield, calls for title (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) · Main Card Results | UFC Edmonton (ufc.com) · Erin Blanchfield | Performance Focused In Familiar Surroundings (ufc.com) · UFC TONIGHT: Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Edmonton (ufc.com) · Erin Blanchfield: UFC Record, Stats and Fighter Profile (fightomic.com)