Does Blanchfield vs Jasudavicius Decide Natalia Silva’s First Title Challenger?

Blanchfield vs Jasudavicius could decide who has the strongest active claim to challenge Natalia Silva for the UFC women's flyweight title. A convincing victory in Edmonton would bring either contender closer to a championship opportunity, although the UFC has not officially designated this fight as a title eliminator.

Silva's recent victory over Wang Cong at UFC 332 has opened a fascinating new chapter at 125 pounds. With Valentina Shevchenko recovering from injury and former champion Alexa Grasso still in contention, the race for the Brazilian's first title defence is far from settled.

That makes the Edmonton co-main event particularly interesting. Both fighters have plenty to gain, but their routes to the belt look rather different.

How Natalia Silva's UFC 332 victory changed the flyweight division

Natalia Silva became the new UFC women's flyweight champion after defeating Wang Cong by unanimous decision in Salt Lake City. The judges scored the five-round contest 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46, extending the Brazilian's unbeaten UFC run to nine victories.

The championship had become vacant following Shevchenko's withdrawal through injury, leaving Silva with an opportunity to claim the belt without facing the division's long-standing champion.

Rather than waiting for Shevchenko's return, Silva wants an active reign. She has already identified Grasso and Blanchfield as potential opponents for early 2027, making the upcoming Edmonton contest particularly significant.

With Natalia Silva next fight still undecided, the leading contenders have a valuable opportunity to strengthen their positions before the champion's first defence.

Blanchfield vs Jasudavicius: who enters with the stronger title claim?

Erin Blanchfield holds the better ranking, while Jasmine Jasudavicius arrives with an opportunity to make a major statement in front of Canadian supporters.

Their contrasting careers make this more than another meeting between ranked contenders.

Both women have already faced demanding opposition. However, Blanchfield's position inside the top five gives her a clearer route towards an immediate championship opportunity.

Jasudavicius has more ground to cover, although defeating a higher-ranked rival would considerably strengthen her case.

Why Erin Blanchfield could earn the next title shot

Blanchfield has been close to the championship conversation for several years without receiving her opportunity.

Her defeat to Manon Fiorot in 2024 interrupted a remarkable rise, but subsequent victories over Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez restored her momentum. The submission of Cortez at UFC 322 demonstrated why her grappling remains such a difficult problem for opponents.

Against Jasudavicius, Blanchfield has three particularly important objectives.

• Control the exchanges. Establish her wrestling without allowing extended periods of standing pressure.
• Show improved striking. Demonstrate that her development extends beyond takedowns and submissions.
• Deliver a convincing finish. Strengthen her argument for an Erin Blanchfield title shot without leaving too much room for debate.

A dominant performance would also give the UFC a fresh matchup featuring two fighters with established credentials and different technical strengths.

There is another important detail. Silva has publicly mentioned Blanchfield as a potential challenger, meaning a strong victory would support a possibility already acknowledged by the champion.

Can Jasmine Jasudavicius upset the championship queue?

Jasudavicius enters with a different challenge. She needs to defeat Blanchfield while convincing the division that she belongs among its leading contenders.

The Canadian recovered from her defeat to Fiorot with a decision victory over Karine Silva in April. That result kept her relevant in an increasingly competitive flyweight landscape.

Her record also includes victories over established names such as Jéssica Andrade and Mayra Bueno Silva.

Edmonton provides another advantage. Competing on home soil should bring considerable crowd support, particularly during difficult moments against an aggressive grappler.

Nevertheless, there is one obstacle that makes her championship ambitions more complicated.

Jasudavicius has already lost to Natalia Silva. Their previous meeting ended in a decision victory for the Brazilian, meaning a rematch would require a compelling sporting argument.

A Jasmine Jasudavicius title shot would become a much stronger possibility if the Canadian delivered a dominant performance against Blanchfield, demonstrating how far she has progressed since their first encounter.

A narrow decision, meanwhile, might improve her ranking without immediately making her the leading challenger.

Could Alexa Grasso move ahead of the Edmonton winner?

Alexa Grasso remains one of the biggest complications in the UFC flyweight title challenger discussion.

The former champion brings championship experience and considerable name recognition. Her rivalry with Shevchenko also established her as one of the division's most recognisable fighters.

However, Grasso has already lost to Silva. The Brazilian defeated her by unanimous decision at UFC 315 in May 2025, creating a difficult argument for an immediate rematch without another significant result.

Three factors could influence Grasso's position against the Edmonton winner.

• Recent momentum. A convincing Edmonton victory would strengthen the winner's immediate sporting credentials.
• Championship experience. Grasso has already competed successfully at the highest level.
• Matchmaking appeal. A fresh challenger might offer a more attractive first defence than an immediate rematch.

Grasso remains a genuine possibility, particularly if the Edmonton contest produces a controversial or unconvincing result.

How does Valentina Shevchenko's injury affect the title picture?

Shevchenko's absence is the biggest uncertainty surrounding the division.

The former champion relinquished her title after suffering ligament damage affecting her shoulder and back. Her recovery has complicated plans for an immediate championship return, although her previous achievements could give her priority once she is healthy.

Shevchenko wants to reclaim the belt, while Silva has made it clear that she prefers an active championship reign rather than waiting indefinitely.

That creates two possible scenarios.

If Shevchenko returns sooner than expected, her championship credentials could place her ahead of the Edmonton winner.

If her recovery continues into 2027, the victorious contender would have a stronger opportunity to secure Silva's first defence.

For the Brazilian, facing an active challenger would also provide an opportunity to establish her reign before a potential meeting with the former champion.

Our analysis: who is most likely to challenge Natalia Silva first?

Our analysis favours Erin Blanchfield as the stronger candidate to emerge from Edmonton and challenge Silva, although the result remains decisive.

Blanchfield's ranking, grappling credentials and recent victories provide a convincing sporting argument. Her ability to close distance, secure takedowns and maintain control could prove particularly important against Jasudavicius.

The Canadian presents a different challenge. Her physical approach and persistent pressure could make the fight competitive, especially if she keeps exchanges standing and prevents Blanchfield from establishing her preferred rhythm.

Three outcomes could reshape the championship queue.

Our preferred scenario is a Blanchfield victory through grappling control, with a decision appearing more plausible than an early finish.

Still, this is a stylistic assessment rather than a guaranteed result. Jasudavicius has the physicality and experience to make the contest much closer than the rankings suggest.

Will UFC Edmonton settle the next championship matchup?

Blanchfield vs Jasudavicius could bring the flyweight division much closer to identifying Natalia Silva's first challenger, but victory alone will not guarantee a championship fight.

A convincing performance from Blanchfield would give her perhaps the strongest active claim, particularly because Silva has already acknowledged her as a potential opponent.

A major upset from Jasudavicius would change the conversation considerably, opening the door to a rematch with the Brazilian champion.

Grasso's experience and Shevchenko's eventual return remain important factors. Nevertheless, with Silva targeting an active reign in early 2027, the Edmonton winner has an excellent opportunity to turn one major victory into a championship opportunity.

And in a division entering a new era, that makes this co-main event one of the most important fights on the calendar.