Erin Blanchfield, Molly McCann Clash at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12

One of these two rising Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweights will likely reach the top 10 after a win in New York.

The news first broke on Thursday morning from Erin Blanchfield’s Instagram page, where she announced she would be facing off against Molly McCann (13-4) on Nov. 12. The two flyweights will throw down inside Madison Square Garden in New York, and they will likely be positioned on the main card of UFC 281. McCann confirmed this shortly after its announcement, while also stating she has signed an eight-fight contract with the UFC as well.

Blanchfield (9-1) has been on a mission since her first career defeat, suffered in the Invicta Fighting Championships ranks in her fourth pro bout. Since that split decision setback to Tracy Cortez – a contentious one still debated to this day – Blanchfield has rattled off six straight victories, including three inside the Octagon. Two decisions over Sarah Alpar and Miranda Maverick in 2021 lifted “Cold Blooded” into a high-stakes tilt with J.J. Aldrich, and she passed the test by hitting a guillotine choke on Aldrich to earn a place in the 125-pound rankings.

The current run for the Liverpool, England, native has been nothing short of spectacular, as she ended a losing skid by taking a decision over Ji Yeon Kim in late 2021. In particular, the 2022 campaign for McCann could scarcely have gone better, with two spinning back elbow knockouts over Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy in March and July – the former a clear contender for “Knockout of the Year.” Through 60 women’s bouts in the UFC thus far this year, seven have ended due to strikes. McCann is the only one of those female fighters to register more than one.

UFC 281 takes place on Nov. 12 inside Madison Square Garden in New York. The event officially only has one additional bout booked at the moment: its headliner, between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira for the middleweight title. A sure-fire thriller at 155 pounds between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler has been linked to this event as well, but the match has not yet been agreed upon.