Blanchfield couldn't take Taila Santos down, Valentina did.

[AmonTobin]

Santos was comfortably winning the fight until she attempted a takedown, Erin rebounded against the fence and was fortunate to land on top. It was sheer luck on Erin's side what changed the outcome of the fight. Santos, who was returning from injury and hadn't fought in 14 months, gassed out getting back up. It was a different fight after that. If Santos hadn't attempted that takedown, she would have probably won with ease. Outclassed, my ass. Erin didn't do much to win the fight and won by wall and stall against a gassed opponent. Erin's striking looked like crap and she couldn't score a single takedown. She's only 24 and has a lot of room to improve, but didn't earn herself a title shot with that completely unimpressive performance.

I said outlasted not outclassed!

 

[capnlarge]

I don't think she was really trying for takedowns. She was getting pieced up at range, so she was keeping it nice and comfy against the cage

 

[Prologue]

It looked to me like Val out muscled Grasso, but was outmuscled by Santos (before the head butt). Val has great technique for sure, but she's always additionally relied on her physical strength as well. That just doesn't always work out.

I remember watching Val vs Santos and noticing that Santos seemed stronger and causing problems for Val. But when I saw the same thing happen vs Grasso, I was really surprised. I think a big part of that too was seeing Grasso at 115 and not looking very strong there. She really came into her own at 125.

<LeeOne01>

 

[pick999]

i thought santos beat val

 

[CPH]

Santos has good BJJ, but she's not really a good wreslter, and Erin couldn't really do anything against her.

..except to control her for most of rds 2 and 3

...also

 

[xhaydenx]

..except to control her for most of rds 2 and 3

...also

The first takedown she got was when Santos tried a shitty td of her own and Erin just fell on her.

3 of the tds in that vid you linked are the same shit haha. Val going for dumb, high risk tds and getting reversed.

I'm not saying Santos is awful or that she can't grapple, but her actual wrestling isn't that impressive.

man, those reversals by Santos were slick.

 

[Rektkid]

This was Blanchfield's toughest test by far, Santos is well put together and is admirably well rounded. She was piecing Blanchfield up in the first BUT instead of folding Blanchfield showed a Champions mentality and by the 3rd Santos was well and truly done.

 

[sfer1]

This was Blanchfield's toughest test by far, Santos is well put together and is admirably well rounded. She was piecing Blanchfield up in the first BUT instead of folding Blanchfield showed a Champions mentality and by the 3rd Santos was well and truly done.

Many of you are talking as if it what something Erin did what changed the outcome of the fight. It was sheer luck on Erin's side. She was getting taken down, rebounded against the fence and was fortunate to land on top. Santos gassed out getting back up. It was a different fight after that.

 

[Rektkid]

Many of you are talking as if it what something Erin did what changed the outcome of the fight. It was sheer luck on Erin's side. She was getting taken down, rebounded against the fence and was fortunate to land on top. Santos gassed out getting back up. It was a different fight after that.

Eh doesn't matter...she got taken down but ended up on top. I can't remember Santos taken her down other than that. Anyway, Santos had nothing left in the tank by the 3rd round.

 

[Psychojoe86]

Yep. It was pretty clear that if blanchfield had 5 rounds, she probably not only would have gotten santos down, but she was probably going to melt santos until she got a finish.

Merab, Colby, blanchfield, gamrot, etc

lots of fighters are using this push pace style in the lower weight classes and it’s growing in popularity.

 

[Necrocrawler]

There's a difference between training against a striker that doesn't rely on takedowns to beat you (yet still uses them in form of throws) and training against a wrestler that have her mainbase on takedowns

 

[CPH]

The first takedown she got was when Santos tried a shitty td of her own and Erin just fell on her.

3 of the tds in that vid you linked are the same shit haha. Val going for dumb, high risk tds and getting reversed.

I'm not saying Santos is awful or that she can't grapple, but her actual wrestling isn't that impressive.

man, those reversals by Santos were slick.

This 'dumb' Val person is the current flyweight champ. My point is, if Santos can give Val problems, then the girl who controlled her for 8 minutes the other day might be pose some problems as well.

Also, the people who are disparaging Blanchfield for not being able to take Santos down should remember that even female khabib can struggle landing the TD sometimes (vs Nina). She had her way with her in rds 1-2 but then went 0-4 on TDs in the 3rd and ended the fight getting bullied and lit up.

 

[Furious77]

Also, the people who are disparaging Blanchfield for not being able to take Santos down should remember that even female khabib can struggle landing the TD sometimes (vs Nina). She had her way with her in rds 1-2 but then went 0-4 on TDs in the 3rd and ended the fight getting bullied and lit up.

Naw Suarez had a severe nerve injury and she could barely use one side of her body. Nina was light work.

 

[legcramp]

Damn so much underrating Santos in this thread... maybe just maybe a fresh Santos has pretty elite takedowns/defense for the division when compared directly with Erin/Val... until her gas tank depletes.

If she has a little more gas to do what she did in the first round in the second round Santos could've easily won a decision but if it was a five rounder.. yikes Erin just has too much pressure and the ability to keep it up later in the fight which is trouble for everyone in the division.

Santos pretty much tried to do a Charles Oliviera impression during the Beneil fight but she just doesn't have the firepower to put Erin out.

 

[Lee_]

20 years ago, I thought Sherdog would one day become so knowledgeable, there would be no posts like the OP.

But to no avail (obviously)

I wonder if we could quantify the number of posts that actually went to elucidating this for the noobs and casuals of the world on Sherdog over the years? Thousands?

YAAAAWWWWNNNN striking affects grappling and TDs, YAAAAWWWWNNNN grappling is not pure grappling in MMA yaaaaaawwwwnnnnn............

 

[Lee_]

I think Val probably still has the best technique, but she might be falling out of her physical prime. In her fights with Santos and Grasso, she looked like she was getting outmuscled. At least to me anyways. I'm sure someone will tell me I'm stupid for saying that.

I can definitely see Erin making it tough for either winner of Grasso/Val.

You are being stupid in saying that.

No, not really. I think most agree that Val is in the process of going over the cliff, if not already in a full-velocity fall.

 

[LouDee16]

This was Blanchfield's toughest test by far, Santos is well put together and is admirably well rounded. She was piecing Blanchfield up in the first BUT instead of folding Blanchfield showed a Champions mentality and by the 3rd Santos was well and truly done.

very impressed.. half way through the 1st i thought she was getting KOed. Her gas tank is crazy and she was piecing up santos in the 3rd.. i honestly think Erin beats both Val and Grasso

 

[chiefwiggum]

Didn’t get the takedowns but she still won the fight

What does that tell about Erin?

not alot. She’s better than a terrible fighter and someone has to win?

it’s like watching a 100 meter race and nobody has legs and it’s takes about 15 mins to be over with and we’re talking about how talented the competitors are. And they’re just rolling down the track.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

not alot. She’s better than a terrible fighter and someone has to win?

it’s like watching a 100 meter race and nobody has legs and it’s takes about 15 mins to be over with and we’re talking about how talented the competitors are. And they’re just rolling down the track.

 

[TR1]

Talia Santos has to be one of the most boring, forgettable fighters today.