Do you know UFC 315’s Jessica Andrade is definitely undefeated (2-0) in her most up-to-date 115-pound appearances? How about the truth that she owns pretty current stoppage victories over the No. 4- and No. 6-ranked contender in that class?
Her Strawweight success is simple to neglect.
Bouncing between Strawweight and Flyweight, Andrade racked up extra wins than losses to turn out to be a Prime 10-ranked fighter in two divisions, however she is a noticeably extra profitable Strawweight. Her post-championship profession has endured some tumultuous moments, most notably in 2023. Left broke after an unpleasant divorce, she opted to signal a brand new profitable contract and struggle 5 instances in 12 months between the 2 divisions.
Predictably, it didn’t go that effectively, as she was completed in three consecutive fights and customarily didn’t look to be at her finest. One would assume, nonetheless, that the yr of untamed exercise and high-level fights — all 5 of her opponents have been/are elite contenders! — would give Andrade the monetary freedom to make higher decisions transferring ahead.
The reply is a convincing possibly?
Like a mean high contenders, Andrade fought twice in 2024, and people outcomes show the issue. At 115 kilos, she decisioned Marina Rodriguez to increase her win streak to 2 after closing 2023 with an authorized ass-kicking of Mackenzie Dern (watch highlights). Fairly than capitalize on that momentum, she opted to leap again as much as Flyweight and get beat up by the sharpest rising expertise of the bunch, Natalia Silva.
At this level, it’s very clear that Andrade is a worse Flyweight than Strawweight. Whether or not you’re judging off win fee or high quality of victories, Andrade is extra profitable at 115 kilos. Regardless of her numerous data for longevity and success in girls’s MMA, “Bate Estaca” stays simply 33 years outdated and may nonetheless be a related participant in Strawweight’s title combine.
As a substitute, she’s persevering with to sabotage her profession with these Flyweight fights. Why on the planet is she combating Jasmine Jasudavicious this weekend in Montreal? It’s an in depth sufficient match up that both might win, however what’s there to realize right here? Andrade doesn’t have a future as a contender within the division, not after dropping two the highest two younger skills in Silva and Erin Blanchfield.
She doesn’t hit as onerous and is less complicated to take down as a Flyweight.
At Strawweight, Andrade might really construct momentum. She has a loss on her document to Zhang Weili, positive, nevertheless it wouldn’t be the toughest rematch to promote all these years later, not when “Magnum” has cleared out the division. Andrade must be combating anyone like Amanda Ribas, returning to the win column and lengthening her — nonetheless lively! — Strawweight streak. A victory like that might get her again into Prime 5 match ups and high-profile rematches, and we might quickly be speaking about potential title pictures after Virna Jandiroba will get her alternative.
As a substitute, Andrade is combating at a handicap in opposition to a much bigger opponent who may simply grind her to the canvas. If she suffers a second consecutive loss, no one will care that each defeats got here at 125 kilos, and her momentum will grind to a halt. If cash is the motive quite than legacy, win bonuses are nonetheless half her pay.
In the end, it’s curious decision-making for the spotlight reel machine, who has actually broken her personal probabilities of a second title reign by insisting on sticking round at Flyweight after it’s clear the ship has sailed.
Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC 315 struggle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET, earlier than the principle card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).
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