Manon Fiorot Only Open to 'Easy' Maycee Barber Matchup If It’s for Interim Title

Manon Fiorot is adamant on fighting for a title next — even if it is an interim belt.

Fiorot made a legitimate case for a gold bid with a unanimous decision win over top contender Erin Blanchfield in the main event at UFC on ESPN 54 last month. But the French standout will have to wait for a trilogy clash between champ Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, who are expected to compete after their stints as coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 32.” While Fiorot would like to serve as the backup for that bout, “The Beast” is also open to another matchup if it has interim title implications.

“If I have to choose, the best choice for me is to be backup on the fight,” Fiorot told MMAjunkie.com. “I think it’s a good thing if Valentina or Alexa have an injury or miss weight or stuff like that. I think the best choice for me now is to be backup for this fight so I can see the fight and perhaps do a faceoff after against the winner. If not, I can fight but for sure I want an interim title or something like that. I think I deserve it.”

While Fiorot would have once preferred fighting Shevchenko, she doesn’t care much now after the former champ’s loss against Grasso.

“In the beginning I really want to fight Valentina because she was undisputed and she is a great champ,” Fiorot said. “But now Alexa [won] against her. So I really don’t care. I have a great, great respect with Valentina for her achievement but no, I take the winner and that’s it. I don’t really want to choose, and I have no preference.”

Also calling for the backup spot for Shevchenko vs. Grasso 3 is Maycee Barber. Trailing just behind Fiorot for the longest active winning streak at flyweight, Barber found the Frenchwoman’s performance at UFC Atlantic City boring. While Fiorot also has the same opinion of Barber’s fights, she is open to an “easy” clash against “The Future” if it’s for the interim title.

“To be honest, I never see a full fight of Maycee because it’s really boring,” she said. “I think the first one against Katlyn Cerminara, I know she [won] the decision. She [did not have] a better performance than mine, and I [fought] with a big knee injury. So no, to be honest I don’t care, it’s easy fight for me to fight Maycee but only if it’s an interim belt or belt.”