UFC on ESPN 54 this Saturday marks the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s 10th visit to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and will be headlined by pivotal women’s flyweight clash at Boardwalk Hall. The card also features a stacked lineup of established stars and rising prospects, all but ensuring a viewing experience replete with thrills and excitement. Ahead of the event, let us look at the skilled athletes who are not only pursuing victory but a significant climb in Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings:
Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot
The top-flight women’s flyweight contenders are set clash in a main event with massive title implications at 125 pounds. Blanchfield’s trajectory in the UFC has been nothing short of meteoric and hints at a championship destiny. Over her six Octagon outings in the promotion, the American has notched victories against renowned names, distinguishing herself as a formidable force in the division. Beyond that, she has also emerged as a cherished favorite among fight fans. Fiorot, on the other hand, maintains an immaculate 6-0 record in the UFC, punctuated by a triumphant conquest over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in September. Undefeated since her first professional bout, the seasoned contender has utilized her superior endurance and tactical acumen to chart her course to the top of the flyweight pile. Both competitors are ranked in the Sherdog women’s pound-for-pound and divisional rankings. Fiorot is ranked No. 8 and Blanchfield is ranked No. 9 in Sherdog’s WMMMA Pound-for-Pound Top 10. Meanwhile “The Beast” is ranked at No. 5, just behind Blanchfied, who’s ranked No.4 in the women’s flyweight rankings.
Vicente Luque vs. Joaquin Buckley
Luque rebounded with an emphatic win over Rafael dos Anjos in his last Octagon assignment, bouncing back from consecutive losses to Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal. Prior to those losses, the Brazilian was on a four-fight finish streak. Meanwhile, Buckley’s shift from the middleweight division to the welterweight bracket proved to be a calculated move, as he swiftly found success in the new weight class. He has rattled off two straight victories since the shift, defeating Andre Fialho and Alex Morono in that order. Luque occupies the No. 14 spot on the Sherdog welterweight rankings ladder, while Buckley remains unranked.
Virna Jandiroba vs. Lupita Godinez
Before the women’s flyweight contenders take center stage in the main event, the preliminary card will witness a pivotal encounter in the strawweight division, as Jandiroba and Godinez do battle in a matchup that could influence the landscape of the 115-pound weight class. Jandiroba carries with her the momentum of a two-fight winning streak, while her opponent boasts a 7-3 promotional record with an active four-fight winning streak. As far as the Sherdog strawweight rankings are concerned, Jandiroba occupies the No. 7 spot, while Godinez is ranked No. 11.