UFC fighters will take a field trip out of the APEX in Las Vegas and head to Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 30. Top flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot face off in Boardwalk Hall with a top ranking and a shot at gold on the line.
Blanchfield turned pro in 2018. The former Invicta FC fighter joined the UFC in 2021 and is 6-0 in the octagon. Undefeated since 2019, “Cold Blooded” last fought in August, beating Taila Santos. The 24-year-old is The Sporting News’ top fighter under 25 to look out for.
Fiorot is a two-time national champion in Muay Thai. She turned pro in 2018 and joined the UFC in 2021. The former EFC and UAE flyweight champion is 6-0 in the octagon, with her last fight being a decision win in September against Rose Namajunas.
Both fighters are in the top ten at flyweight, with Blanchfield at number two and Fiorot at six. With flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter, they could be the next contenders for gold. There is no word yet if Blanchfield and Fiorot will fight for interim gold.
WATCH: UFC Atlantic City: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot on ESPN+
Here is all you need to know about UFC Atlantic City including the full fight card, live streams, channel, start time, odds, and more.
Main Card
Prelims
The co-main event will feature Vicente Luque vs. Joaquin Buckley.
Luque turned pro in 2009. A member of The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians, Luque is 15-5 in the octagon. Ranked eleventh in the UFC welterweight rankings, Luque had a four-fight win streak snapped against Belal Muhammad. After getting knocked out against Geoff Neal, he rebounded with a win against Rafael dos Anjos.
Buckley turned pro in 2014. Joining the UFC in 2020, he is known for a viral spinning back kick against Impa Kasanganay. Primarily fighting at middleweight, Buckley returned to welterweight in 2023 and has won two straight.
A win for Buckley could switch him in and Luque out of the rankings.
MORE: Full list of confirmed bouts for UFC 300
Former world champion Chris Weidman faces Bruno Silva at middleweight.
The fight is Weidman’s second contest since returning from a snapped right fibula and tibia against Uriah Hall in 2021. “The All-American” returned in August 2023, losing against Brad Tavares. A two-time NCAA Division I All-American, Weidman won the UFC middleweight title in 2013 against Anderson Silva. The Long Islander has gone 4-7 since then. It will be his first “home fight” since 2018.
Silva turned pro in 2010. The former M-1 middleweight champion joined the UFC in 2021 and is 4-4 with the promotion. On a two-fight losing streak, he last competed in October.
On the prelims, Virna Jandiroba faces Loopy Godinez in a high-stakes strawweight fight.
Jandiroba turned pro in 2013 and is a former Invicta FC strawweight champion. Entering the octagon in 2019, she is 4-3 with the UFC and on a two-fight win streak. Ranked fifth in the strawweight rankings, she had an impressive win against Marina Rodriguez in May 2023.
Godinez is ranked tenth in the rankings. The former LFA strawweight champion is 7-3 in the octagon since joining the UFC in 2021 and has won four straight, all in 2023. Her last fight was a decision win against Tabatha Ricci.
The UFC Atlantic City prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Marc 30, with the main card at 10 p.m. ET. Blanchfield and Fiorot should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last. The event is in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
You can pay $10.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $109.99.
WATCH: UFC Atlantic City: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot on ESPN+
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
Per Bet MGM, Erin Blanchfield is the -210 favorite, while Manon Fiorot is the +165 underdog.
