Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight grapplers Erin Blanchfield vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
will clash this weekend (Sat., Oct. 17, 2026) inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for UFC Edmonton.I know we’ve all been slagging off the UFC Edmonton event as vaguely pointless, but could there be a title eliminator hiding right under our noses? Depending on the timeline of Valentina Shevchenko’s return, there’s a real chance the winner of this co-main event challenges Natalia Silva in her first
potential title defense. Blanchfield has been circling those waters for a long time now. The 27-year-0ld standout has won eight of her nine bouts, including a victory over former champion Rose Namajunas. Jasudavicius, meanwhile, is making her own late run at the top, as the 37-year-old veteran has won six of her last seven fights and is currently the highest ranked Canadian fighter on UFC’s roster.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Blanchfield vs. Jasudavicius Betting Odds
- Erin Blanchfield victory: -350
- Erin Blanchfield via TKO/KO/DQ: +900
- Erin Blanchfield via submission: +600
- Erin Blanchfield via decision: -145
- Jasmine Jasudavicius victory: +255
- Jasmine Jasudavicius via TKO/KO/DQ: +2200
- Jasmine Jasudavicius via submission: +1300
- Jasmine Jasudavicius via decision: +390
- Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
How Blanchfield Wins
Blanchfield is perhaps the division’s best grappler, a BJJ black belt with slick transitions and above-average takedowns as well. Her kickboxing is best described as serviceable: she maintains a high output and has some sneaky kicks, but there’s still not a ton of snap or fluidity to her offense.
Her striking is generally a means to an end.
Blanchfield wants a wrestling match here. Jasudavicius is a surprisingly physical wrestler with solid endurance, but Blanchfield is simply the better grappler. If the duo start to scramble, it should be Blanchfield who’s able to look down good positions and emerge from the chaos on top.
She does not, however, want to exhaust herself forcing takedowns. I’d like to see Blanchfield throwing straight shots and remaining mobile, convincing Jasudavicius to chase after her. If she can catch a kick or duck under a punch, she’ll start those scrambles with a head start. That’ll save energy, as well as increase the odds that she’s able to jump the back or otherwise attack a strangle.
If she wants a title shot, it’s time for a statement win.
How Jasudavicius Wins
It’s important to remember that Jasudavicius only began her professional career in 2019. She’s still improving despite her age, which helps explain his sudden surge up the ranks beginning in 2024. A physically strong Flyweight, Jasudavicius excels at grinding down her opponents and beating them up from top position.
Here’s the issue for Jasudavicius: she’s functionally a worse striker than Blanchfield, and she doesn’t want to scramble with the better grappler. If she immediately shoots below the waist, she’s likely entering a whirlwind of guillotine attempts and reversals that are unlikely to favor her.
She does seem to have an advantage in physicality, however. We have seen Blanchfield fatigue, even if fights where she’s outlasted her opponents, and she doesn’t appear to have the raw strength/size of her Canadian foe. How to take advantage?
I’d like to see Jasudavicius channel the spirits and game plans of Randy Couture, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. She should push forward and use her wrestling/strength to jam Blanchfield into the fence and keep her there! From close quarters, Jasudavicius can aim to wear down her opponent with elbows and knees and generally impose her will.
Once Blanchfield is a little tired, it might be time to wrestle and look for ground strikes.
Blanchfield vs. Jasudavicius Prediction
I think Jasudavicius could score the upset if she follows the correct game plan and executes it perfectly. That’s a pair of tall tasks, however, and I don’t know that I trust her to stay out of her own way. Jasudavicius is a wrestling-based grinder through and through — will she have the discipline to avoid shooting and giving Blanchfield her own opportunities?
Probably not. Blanchfield is a more fluid mixed martial artist and better in too many areas. In all likelihood, the fight is scrappy on the feet, but Blanchfield wins the ground battle and spends more time in top control.
