Molly McCann vs Erin Blanchfield Prediction: UFC 281 Odds
Blanchfield is coming off a two-round submission victory over JJ Aldrich five months ago at UFC Vegas 56 that extended her current win streak to six fights. McCann maintained a spot in the rankings with an impressive first-round finish of Hannah Goldy at UFC London in July, and has claimed Performance of the Night bonuses in each of her past two outings.
McCann’s recent dominant performance has failed to buoy her on the UFC 281 odds, where she lags as a distant +300 underdog, while Blanchfield leads the way as a massive -400 favourite.
Molly McCann Odds
McCann has demonstrated somewhat surprising punching power in her last two fights. “Meatball” disposed of Goldy, and Luana Carolina in their March matchup in London, with devastating back elbows, ending a run of six straight fights that went the distance. Those two victories also mark the first two contests in which the 32-year-old Liverpool native has finished opponents in nine outings since joining the UFC in 2018.
The all-time leader in performance bonuses among UFC women’s flyweights, McCann sports deceivingly strong punching power. Her average of 5.84 significant strikes landed per minute is among the all-time bet in the 125-pound division. And while she has regularly gone the distance in recent years, it is wise not to forget about her six career knockout wins, with three coming inside five minutes.
However, she will find herself at a six-inch reach advantage against Blanchfield. That could force her to take the action to the mat, where she has enjoyed mixed results during here current win streak, with opponents holding the clear edge in control.
Erin Blanchfield Odds
Erin Blanchfield has wasted no time establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with since joining the UFC just over a year ago. The 23-year-old American they call “Cold Blooded” has turned in dominating performance while tallying wins in each of her first three octagon appearances, capped by her lopsided win over JJ Aldrich back in June.
A Jiu-Jitsu practitioner since the age of seven, Blanchfield has demonstrated the ability to dominate opponents while both standing and on the mat. She has outstruck opponents by wide margins in each of her three recent wins, averaging an impressive 5.69 significant strikes per minute, and has also averaged four takedowns per match through her first three UFC fights.
Indeed, Blanchfield’s ability to establish control on the mat enables her to effectively wear down opponents. A competitive grappler since childhood, Blanchfield is a constant submission threat, particularly when the action hits the mat. And while she has seen six of her 10 career fights go the distance, it is important to note that she has yet to lose a single round since joining the UFC.
UFC 281 Prediction: McCann vs. Blanchfield
McCann arguably represents the hardest hitting opponent that Blanchfield has faced in her career. However, with her sizeable reach advantage and superior grappling abilities, Cold Blooded is well equipped to overcome McCann’s power and wear her down by spending most of this contest on the mat.
Prediction: Blanchfield to win by submission (+190)
