UFC Fight Night – Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber: Preview & Betting Tips

Blanchfield has shown her blueprint time and again: clinch, takedown, suffocating top control, and the ability to chain submissions or ride out dominant rounds. Her grappling game is her strength, and against a striker like Barber, she’ll want to close the distance quickly and keep the fight grounded.

Barber brings power and volume on the feet, averaging a +1.80 significant strike differential per minute. Her improvement in technical striking and composure in the pocket has been evident during her five-fight win streak. And she’s also improved on her takedown defence too, but it remains to be seen whether or not she can sprawl and brawl against an elite grappler like Blanchfield.

The winner of this fight will likely be next in line for the flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, so this is a high-stakes bout on Saturday night. Blanchfield has the advantage in terms of big fight/main event experience having already fought in the UFC main event twice before. Barber, meanwhile, has never been in a main event, and while that’s not hugely significant, it is a small detail that certainly has to be taken into consideration when analysing these types of fights.

Blanchfield vs Barber: Prediction & Betting Tips

This is a typical wrestler vs striker battle. Erin Blanchfield has a clear wrestling and grappling advantage in this one, while Maycee Barber has the clear striking advantage. It always seems like more often than not it is the wrestler who gets the better of their opponent in these matchups, but of course, it’s all dependent on if the striker can stuff takedown attempts.

Blanchfield averages a 31% takedown accuracy whilst Barber has a 53% takedown defence accuracy – but this one is much more one-sided in terms of grappling than the numbers suggest.

I think this one goes the distance after Blanchfield controls Barber for three or four rounds. I’m going with Erin Blanchfield to win by decision or technical decision at 1.91 (Bet 365). “Cold Blooded” does have the potential to win this by submission though, so maybe if you fancy a selection at odds of over 4/1, this is where to look.

I’m personally tipping the Blanchfield decision/technical decision and combining it with the co-main event to go the distance between Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein. This is a double at 2.64 via Bet 365.