Jessica Andrade fought just once in 2022, submitting Amanda Lemos last spring in the first round of their contest. Now, “Bate Estaca” is set to enter the octagon for the second time in 2023 this Saturday in Las Vegas. Watch the UFC Vegas 69 live stream on ESPN+ No.3 Andrade looks to fend off No.10 Erin Blanchfield in a women’s flyweight headline bout. Their contest will be supported by light heavyweights Jordan Wright and Zac Pauga in the co-main event.
UFC Vegas 69 Live Stream Details
- When: Saturday, February 18, 2023
- Preliminary Start Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT
- Main Card Start Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- Location: UFC APEX – Las Vegas, Nevada
- UFC Vegas 69 Live Stream: ESPN+
Despite featuring just two bouts between ranked fighters, UFC Vegas 69 has plenty of depth. Four fighters will be making their promotion debuts, bringing a lot of interest to the preliminary card. In fact, all of them are favorites in their matchup with the exception of Themba Gorimbo. The timeless Andrew Miller, 39, is a standout on as the opener on the main card. He’s won his last three bouts and looks to welcome Alex Hernandez to the lightweight division.
Main Event Preview
After wildly losing three of four fights from August 2019 to April 2021 which included two title challenges, Andrade (24-9-0) has been on a small tear. She’s won her last three contests in the octagon, two of which were first-round finishes. Her most recent fight was just a month ago at UFC 283 in Brazil where she dominated Lauren Murphy, earning a unanimous decision and sending Murphy into retirement. As the seventh-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter, Andrade is always in the title discussion, but has held a UFC belt just once and briefly. Still, she is the standard by which to measure a challenger, and that’s the role she’ll play on Saturday.
Blanchfield (10-1-0) is called “Cold Blooded” for a reason, beyond being given the nickname as a child by her father. Since turning pro in 2019, she’s been a force. After posting a 4-1 record in Invicta, Blanchfield entered the UFC in 2021, winning her first four bouts in commanding fashion, extending her streak to seven consecutive victories. Her November first-round submission of Molly McCann at UFC 281, however, apparently got the attention of the promotion. It undoubtedly helped earn her the chance to jump from Top 10 to Top 5 in the women’s flyweight division.
On the other side of success this Saturday will surely mean a matchup with eight-time division champion Valentina Shevchenko. For Andrade, it would be a rematch. For Blanchfield, it would be the biggest moment of her career. Still, first things first. Saturday will be her first main event in the UFC, meaning her night won’t be done after three rounds, should it come to that. Main events in the promotion, of course, are given five rounds, similar to a title fight. The tale of the tape is one of size versus experience. Of the latter, Andrade has the edge in spades. Blanchfield will have a three-inch advantage in height and four inches in arm reach. If the fight stays on the ground, look for Blanchfield to be in control. On their feet, the power of Andrade is undeniable and a concern for her opponent.
UFC Vegas 69 Fight Card and Odds
Main Card
- #3 Jessica Andrade (-135) vs #10 Erin Blanchfield (+115) – Women’s Flyweight
- Jordan Wright (+230) vs Zac Pauga (-275) – Light Heavyweight
- Josh Parisian (+210) vs Jamal Pogues (-250) – Heavyweight
- William Knight (-115) vs Marcin Prachnio (-105) – Light Heavyweight
- Jim Miller (+190) vs Alexander Hernandez (-225) – Lightweight
Preliminary Card
- #12 Lina Lansberg (+370) vs #14 Mayra Bueno Silva (-460) – Women’s Bantamweight
- Jamall Emmers (+135) vs Khusein Askhabov (-155) – Featherweight
- Ovince Saint Preux (+185) vs Philipe Lins (-215) – Light Heavyweight
- Nazim Sadykhov (-195) vs Evan Elder (+165) – Lightweight
- AJ Fletcher (-275) vs Themba Gorimbo (+230) – Welterweight
- Clayton Carpenter (-315) vs Juancamilo Ronderos (+260) – Flyweight
