Julianna Pena called out by top-ranked flyweight contender

However, Blanchfield stated she offers the UFC something none of those other fighters do: a fresh matchup.

“I feel like in the bantamweight division those top five names, top 10 maybe are kind of like recycled names or people that have been around for a while,” Blanchfield said. “They’re very good girls, but they’ve been the same. Bantamweight hasn’t had as many prospects come up as the flyweight division has, and I think throwing my name in there and having me fight for a 135-pound title is definitely going to get a lot of eyes on it.”

After stopping former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade via second-round submission in February, Blanchfield (11-1) appeared destined for a flyweight title fight later this year before Alexa Grasso upset champion Valentina Shevchenko in March. 

With those two expected to rematch sometime in September, Blanchfield decided not to sit around and wait for her title fight. Though she already holds a win over one former champion, challenging Pena (11-5) is a risky move for the 24-year-old. 

Pena would not only be Blanchfield’s toughest opponent to date, but she has also had 10 fights at bantamweight to Blanchfield’s, well, none. She also has more experience fighting on a big stage, competing in two title fights and winning her season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”