Edmonton — Jasmine Jasudavicius was supposed to face Erin Blanchfield in Philadelphia back in August, until the American pulled out of the fight due to injury.
Admitting on Wednesday that it was “frustrating” to lose the fight just prior to tapering off in training, the silver lining for Jasudavicius (15-4) was the fight moving to Edmonton, Alberta in her native Canada.
There might actually be a second silver lining to the fight, which serves as the co-main event at Rogers Place this Saturday, being postponed. That’s because, with Valentina Shevchenko vacating her title and Natalia Silva newly installed as women’s flyweight champ, the winner of Blanchfield vs. Jasudavicius could very well earn the next title shot.
Erin Blanchfield expects just that with a win. Jasudavicius sees things similarly. “I think that is very accurate. I think whoever wins this fight does expect a title shot,” she told Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC Edmonton media day. Adding that there was no surprise in seeing Blanchfield campaigning as well, “I think that this fight is a title eliminator,” she stated.
Where that title fight might take place is another question. The UFC is rumored to head back to Toronto for a numbered event in January of 2027, in conjunction with what were formerly Pay-Per-View cards in Canada moving to Paramount+, as they have in the U.S.
It might be a bit of a quick turnaround for a title fight, with the holidays in play, but Jasudavicius, who trains at Niagara Top Team in St. Catharines, Ontario, is down. “I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time. I would love to stay active, I would love to fight in Toronto, and it would be an honour to fight for the belt in Toronto,” she exclaimed.
There’s work to be done first. Jasudavicius has a formidable opponent ahead of her in Blanchfield, with the pair ranked #6 and #4 at 125lbs respectively. The two flyweights shared a card together in Edmonton two years ago, and even then, Jasudavicius had her eye on the American.
“Defintiely. I’ve always had my eye on the girls in the weight class. Anyone who’s in 125, if I see them around, I’m kind of looking at them, sizing them up a little bit,” Jasudavicius admitted. “I did obviously see her and think of this.” With a fight booked, however, Jasudavicius didn’t get too caught up in it, but there was “a little trickle in my mind.”
The fight coming in Edmonton after the two shared a card here is a good omen to the Canadian star. “I definitely do believe in that. I think it is [a good omen]. I initially was upset about [the fight] being changed from Philly, because I was ready. But now, it’s great, because I’ve had two camps to prepare for this girl. And I feel very confident. Mentally, physically, emotionally ready to get in there and have the performance of a lifetime.”
Watch the full UFC Edmonton media day appearance by Jasmine Jasudavicius above.