Manon Fiorot to Wait for Title Shot if Successful Against Erin Blanchfield

Manon Fiorot is determined to fight for a title next should she defeat Erin Blanchfield at UFC Atlantic City on March 30.

Fiorot will headline UFC on ESPN 54 opposite Blanchfield in what is essentially a title eliminator. However, a win doesn’t guarantee an immediate championship fight, given that the title picture is currently in a state of flux.

Champion Alexa Grasso is starring opposite former champ Valentina Shevchenko in the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The season premieres in June, after which the two are expected to meet in a trilogy clash, causing a delay in Fiorot’s potential title shot. But the French standout is insistent on fighting for a belt next and willing to wait for her turn.

“You know, obviously, I already deserve two times the title shot, but you know life goes on, sometimes injuries [happen.] That’s the way it is. Of course, I know and I believe the next fight will be the title and I know they have to make the trilogy for the third fight before. I’ll wait: no problem; but the next one is [for] the title,” Fiorot said during UFC Atlantic City media day.

However, the Boxing Squad representative is open to fighting for an interim title against top contenders. Asked about a potential interim title tilt against Maycee Barber or Rose Namajunas, the 34-year-old said:

“Yes, for a temporary title, interim. Yeah, I’m open to that if it’s for that kind of fight but not for a normal one.”

Blanchfield is currently riding a nine-fight winning streak which includes six UFC outings. Many expect “Cold-Blooded” to be the toughest matchup so far for Fiorot, who hasn’t lost a fight since her pro debut in 2018 and is undefeated in six UFC contests. However, “The Beast” doesn’t expect Blanchfield to be the toughest test of her career based on the caliber of opponents she has faced compared to the New Jersey native.

“No, to be honest it’s not the roughest and the hardest fight for me in my MMA career,” said Fiorot. “Because she didn’t have the same kind of opponents that I had. I had very rough opponent[s], these three last ones were very strong. I have beaten a [former] champ, Rose, who is an amazing fighter so I don’t think it’ll be the hardest.”