UFC Fight Night: Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield Picks and Predictions

Andrade and Blanchfield will meet in a five-round flyweight bout that oddsmakers are expecting to be a close bout. Our UFC betting picks expect Andrade to pick up thr victory, and aren't expecting it to go the distance.

Less than a month since her last victory, Jessica Andrade returns to the octagon to face Erin Blanchfield at the main event for UFC Fight Night betting this evening. 

Andrade accepted this fight on late notice and will face off against Blanchfield in a flyweight bout scheduled for five rounds. Oddsmakers are expecting a close fight with UFC odds opening with Andrade as the favorite at -140 with the rising star Blanchfield at +120.

Here are my best free UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield picks and predictions for February 18 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield fight odds

Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield method of victory odds

Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield picks

Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield betting preview

Jessica Andrade is the former women's strawweight champion but has recently bounced between that division and flyweight. Since she accepted this matchup with just a week's notice, she'll fight at 125 which is what she weighed in at when she defeated Lauren Murphy by unanimous decision less than a month ago.

"Bate Estaca" has now won three fights in a row to rebuild momentum following an unsuccessful flyweight title bid against Valentina Shevchenko in 2021. The 31-year-old is a pressure fighter that uses her strength and power to bully her opponents, both standing up and on the mat.

Erin "Cold Blooded" Blanchfield is 10-1 in her MMA career and hasn't lost since she was a teenager and competing at Invicta in 2019. She's a perfect 4-0 in the UFC and is coming off a first-round submission win against Molly McCann last November — catapulting her into No. 10 in the flyweight rankings.

The 23-year-old is a grappling specialist that began training in BJJ since she was seven. Blanchfield set the women's flyweight record for takedowns in a fight (seven) against Miranda Maverick in 2021 and her last two victories have come by way of submission.

Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield tale of the tape

Jessica Andrade vs Erin Blanchfield UFC prediction and best bet

Fight prediction: Andrade 

Blanchfield has loads of potential but hasn't faced anybody of Andrade's caliber before, and this might be an example of too much too soon. The only reason we're getting such a generous line on the former champ is due to her taking this fight on short notice.

While facing off against a grappling specialist without the benefit of a full camp could make things difficult, Andrade has faced plenty of different skill sets over the years and has generally adjusted well to them.

This is one of the best fighters in the world at both strawweight and flyweight, and her only defeats within the last six years have come against the top female fighters in the world like Shevchenko, Zhang Weili, and Rose Namajunas (which was a razor-close split decision).

Andrade's pressure and powerful striking will make things difficult for Blanchfield especially if she has a tough time taking this fight to the mat. With Andrade boasting formidable strength and a 73% takedown defense, I'll back her to keep this standing up enough to get the victory. 

Prediction: Andrade moneyline (-138 at bet365)

Fight best bet: Under 2.5 rounds

Both of these fighters are finishers which is rare for this weight class.

Five of Andrade's last six wins have come inside the first two rounds, and her decision victory against Lauren Murphy could have easily been stopped early since she landed an incredible 231 significant strikes — the second-most in UFC for a three-round fight. 

Meanwhile, Blanchfield has finished her last two opponents inside the first two rounds. Regardless of which fighter is able to implement her game plan don't count on this bout going past the midway point of the third round. 

Pick: Under 2.5 rounds (-115 at DraftKings)