Andrade v Blanchfield UFC betting picks & odds – Feb 18, 2023

Jessica Andrade steps up on short notice to save the UFC Fight Night main event against Erin Blanchfield this Saturday in Las Vegas. Visa complications prevented the original contestant, Talia Santos, from entering the USA. Blanchfield has looked ultra-impressive in her UFC career to date, and this should be a great fight against one of the most powerful women on the UFC roster.

READ: How to bet on UFC fights online

Jessica Andrade (24-9-0) is a fighting machine. The Brazilian would probably throw hands every weekend if the money was right. She last fought at UFC 284 on January 21, so this will be her second trip to the octagon within a month. That appearance was a one-sided, three-round beatdown of Lauren Murphy. Andrade was barely touched during the victory, so the only possible damage could be to her fists and shins.

The other issue fighters face on a short backup can be fatigue following two weight cuts. Andrade has successfully competed at various weight divisions throughout her career and presumably knows how to manage this aspect of the game. She looks much more comfortable at 125 pounds, where this fight will be held. Standing just 5’2’’, she normally carries a height and reach disadvantage at flyweight, but this is negated by her prodigious power.

Andrade will need to carefully control the range against her taller, rangier opponent and will be looking to slip the jab and land heavy punches from inside the pocket. She throws devastating body blows that can empty the gas tank of the woman opposite. This can allow the Brazilian to then swarm her tiring opponent and complete lengthy combinations, as we saw in the Murphy fight. Only superhuman resilience kept Murphy from being finished before the final bell.

READ: Best betting sites for UFC odds in 2023

Erin Blanchfield (10-1-0) cracked the flyweight top 10 with a decisive submission victory over Molly McCann at her most recent outing. The New Jersey native is on a seven-fight win streak including a perfect 4-0 UFC record. Her dominant performance against fan favourite McCann made the fight world sit up and take notice. She boasts knockout, submission, and decision victories, and the 23-year-old demonstrates a high fight IQ for such a young and inexperienced athlete.

Blanchfield owns a BJJ black belt and should have an advantage if the fight hits the mat and she can hold the pocket rocket Andrade down. Her sole defeat was back in 2019 at Invicta via split decision, so Blanchfield should be riding a wave of confidence into this bout. It represents a big jump in class, but if she can pull off the upset, a title fight surely beckons. A main event slot after only four UFC fights suggests she is seen as a potential star of the future.

We have been very impressed with Blanchfield since she entered the UFC. She appears to have all the tools and her ground game might be the best in the women’s flyweight division. If she can earn Andrade’s respect in the standup portion of the bout and stay at long range, the takedown opportunities should open up in the latter rounds. On that note, we are tipping the newcomer to continue her winning run over the more experienced and battle-hardened Andrade.

More sports betting picks