LAS VEGAS – Jessica Andrade received’t rule out extra future strikes right down to the strawweight division, however stated she’s at present experiencing the perfect weight reduce of her profession for her girls’s flyweight bout towards Natalia Silva at UFC Combat Night time 242.
Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC) is the one feminine in UFC historical past to earn victories in three weight lessons. She began as a bantamweight, then went right down to strawweight the place she had her largest success in changing into a UFC champion. In recent times, she has spent most of her time at flyweight, however has made some appearances down at 115 kilos.
The matchup with Silva (17-5-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is within the weight class the place she feels most snug, Andrade stated, regardless of beginning her got here 30 kilos heavier than the place she is going to weigh in on Friday forward of Saturday’s contest on the UFC Apex (ESPN+).
“(I had) 30 kilos (to chop when) I heard in regards to the combat in June in Brazil,” Andrade informed MMA Junkie and different reporters by an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Solely began to do the burden reduce right here after I bought again on the finish of June (then) July and August. … This has been certainly one of my finest weight cuts. I’m feeling nice so far as coaching is worried. I’m feeling robust, feeling nice and I’m coaching round individuals which can be waking me up.”
Though 30 kilos appears vital, Andrade stated she solely has 5 kilos remaining to shed. These will doubtless be probably the most troublesome kilos, nevertheless it’s nothing in comparison with what the Brazilian has endured previously. In accordance with Andrade, her largest weight reduce got here previous to her unanimous resolution victory over Claudia Gadelha in September 2017.
“Yeah, numerous weight losses previously for the cuts,” Andrade stated. “For the combat towards Gadelha, I truly dropped 60 (kilos) in 32 days.”
Andrade, 32, has been by rather a lot in her UFC profession, and enters UFC Combat Night time 242 towards Silva with probably the most fights and victories of any feminine in firm historical past. She is going to look so as to add on to these accolades in pursuit of a title shot in any division, or for a BMF belt, and thinks Silva is an efficient dance accomplice to get her there.
“I believe that is nice matchmaking,” Andrade stated. “It’s two good types of preventing. When the title got here up we considered a important occasion in August. It seems it gave sufficient time for each of us. I believe each of us need to do a tough weight reduce. I believe it’s a woman I see what she’s all about. I’ve seen her since she’s come to the UFC. I’ve adopted her. I’ve cheered her on ever since she’s come right here. So I believe it’s going to be a very good combat since she’s come right here.”
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