BLANCHFIELD WANTS A FINISH TO STEAL THE TITLE SHOT FROM JASUDAVICIUS

Erin Blanchfield meets Jasmine Jasudavicius in the Edmonton co-main event on Saturday, and a finish is her fastest way past Alexa Grasso in the title line.

"Ideally, getting a finish."

That is Erin Blanchfield's whole plan for Saturday night. She faces Jasmine Jasudavicius in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 291 on Oct. 17 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Blanchfield (14-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has waited in the top five for years. A finish here could finally move her from waiting to next.

The Door Silva Opened

Natalia Silva is the new flyweight champion, and Blanchfield told UFC.com that Silva wants to stay active. That pace helps every contender below her.

Blanchfield also pointed to Valentina Shevchenko being out of the picture. With the former champion sidelined, she said the race for the next shot feels far more open.

Alexa Grasso is still in that race. Blanchfield knows a decision win might not be enough to jump her.

The Finish She Wants

Blanchfield said she would love her first knockout in the UFC. She has never scored one, and she admitted any finish would do.

That line tells the story. She has called for title shots before and feels it got her nowhere, so now the performance has to speak.

She brings real momentum into Edmonton. Blanchfield has won two straight, a decision over Rose Namajunas and a submission over Tracy Cortez.

One-Up On The Champion

Here is her sharpest angle. Silva beat Jasudavicius by decision, so a Blanchfield finish would top the champion's own result against the same opponent.

Jasudavicius (15-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will not make that easy. The Canadian beat Karine Silva by decision in April, after a five-fight win streak was snapped by Manon Fiorot.

This fight was first set for UFC 330 in August. A Blanchfield injury, the first pullout of her UFC career, pushed it to Edmonton.

So does Blanchfield finally finish her way into a title shot — or does Jasudavicius protect home soil and steal the spot herself?