LAS VEGAS – Jessica Andrade won’t rule out more future moves down to the strawweight division, but said she’s currently experiencing the best weight cut of her career for her women’s flyweight bout against Natalia Silva at UFC Fight Night 242.
Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC) is the only female in UFC history to earn victories in three weight classes. She started as a bantamweight, then went down to strawweight where she had her biggest success in becoming a UFC champion. In recent years, she has spent most of her time at flyweight, but has made some appearances down at 115 pounds.
The matchup with Silva (17-5-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is in the weight class where she feels most comfortable, Andrade said, despite starting her came 30 pounds heavier than where she will weigh in on Friday ahead of Saturday’s contest at the UFC Apex (ESPN+).
“(I had) 30 pounds (to cut when) I heard about the fight in June in Brazil,” Andrade told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Only started to do the weight cut here when I got back at the end of June (then) July and August. … This has been one of my best weight cuts. I’m feeling great as far as training is concerned. I’m feeling strong, feeling great and I’m training around people that are waking me up.”
Although 30 pounds seems significant, Andrade said she only has five pounds remaining to shed. Those will likely be the most difficult pounds, but it’s nothing compared to what the Brazilian has endured in the past. According to Andrade, her biggest weight cut came prior to her unanimous decision victory over Claudia Gadelha in September 2017.
“Yeah, a lot of weight losses in the past for the cuts,” Andrade said. “For the fight against Gadelha, I actually dropped 60 (pounds) in 32 days.”
Andrade, 32, has been through a lot in her UFC career, and enters UFC Fight Night 242 against Silva with the most fights and victories of any female in company history. She will look to add on to those accolades in pursuit of a title shot in any division, or for a BMF belt, and thinks Silva is a good dance partner to get her there.
“I think this is great matchmaking,” Andrade said. “It’s two good styles of fighting. When the name came up we thought about a main event in August. It turns out it gave enough time for both of us. I think both of us have to do a hard weight cut. I think it’s a girl I see what she’s all about. I’ve seen her since she’s come to the UFC. I’ve followed her. I’ve cheered her on ever since she’s come here. So I think it’s going to be a good fight since she’s come here.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.
