LAS VEGAS – Jessica Andrade thinks she’s one win away from a title shot.
The former UFC women’s strawweight champion is confident she’ll soon get a shot at gold if victorious in her next outing. Andrade (24-9 MMA, 15-7 UFC) returns to the cage on Saturday night in a short-notice bout against flyweight prospect Erin Blanchfield (10-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). The bout is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 219.
Although the fight will be contested at 125 pounds, Andrade believes a win will get her a championship bout at 115 pounds.
“I’ve said this to everyone, all year long, that want to remain a strawweight,” Andrade told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 219 media day. “I set my goals and that’s where I want to stay. I think that coming off four straight victories, I’m actually closer to facing (Zhang) Weili.
“And on that subject, I went to China to face Weili. I went in there, I went to her. We can fight in Las Vegas, that be great, or anywhere in the United States, but this is second nature to her. She’s spent her time at the PI, she’s done camps here, so I want to take her out to Brazil because I went to China to face her. I want to move her out of her comfort zone. I went to her, so why not do it for me? But I want to stay at strawweight, I’ve said it all along. Again, four straight wins and coming off against a prospect, I think I will be considered over here for a really clear shot at Weili.”
Andrade, who began her UFC career as a bantamweight, is on a three-fight winning streak, alternating between the strawweight and flyweight divisions. Her intentions have been to remain at 115 pounds, but opportunities have risen at 125.
The Brazilian has a lot of respect for Blanchfield. She expects the bout to be a good show for the fans.
“She was coming in to fight the No. 1 in the rankings, and I’m coming in at No. 3,” Andrade saud. “I had the chance to fight somebody in the lower rankings, so why not give that chance to someone else? I think it’s a challenge to be accepted, and I’m ready. I don’t fear anyone. We’re on the rankings. I come from three straight wins, so it’s going to be a good fight. We’ll see.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 219.
