Montreal — Canada’s Jasmine Jasudavicius knows the assignment this Saturday at UFC 315. She’s looking to make a move towards gold, and that means fighting some of the sport’s biggest names.
Enter Jessica Andrade, former women’s strawweight champ and flyweight title challenger. “She’s got crazy accolades, and I want to become the best in the world,” noted Jasudavicius (13-3) during Wednesday’s UFC 315 media day. “I’m chasing the title, and I understand that I have to beat somebody like her to get there.”
“I look forward to testing myself. I believe in my skills and abilities, and can’t wait for Saturday night.”
It was pointed out that Andrade is yet another Brazilian, with Jasudavicius having compiled quite the body count of fighters from the South American nation recently. Mayra Bueno Silva. Ariane Da Silva. Priscila Cachoeira. She also had a fight with Viviane Araujo booked, though that one fell through when her would-be opponent pulled out.
“I didn’t even realize, I didn’t know that. They just send me a name and I say let’s go,” Jasudavicius said when it was suggested that might be one reason behind the UFC booking her with another Brazilian star. “I don’t know, its funny that they’re all Brazilian.”
Of late, the UFC seems to have gotten behind Jasudavicius, ranked #9 in the women’s flyweight division. The St. Catharines, Ontario-based fighter feels that, and feels the fans behind her as well.
“I actually do feel the buzz around me. I can feel it on my social media. I do feel that,” she said on Wednesday. Although she’s doing her best to disconnect, “so I’m not drinking my own cool aid. I want to come into the fight with the right mindframe and the right mindset, and leave it out there.” Still, continued Jasudavicius, “it is really cool to have all this hype, and I’m definitely blessed. I appreciate it. I want to show well, and try not to swear, things like that. I’m fine with media, I actually really enjoy it.”
Since entering the UFC, and especially over the last few years, Jasmine Jasudavicius has been one of the busiest fighters on the roster, especially among the ladies. “Strike while the iron’s hot,” she put it. “I’m in here, I’m active, I’m clawing my way to the top tooth and nail.”
That said, burnout is a concern. “Yeah definitely.” Jasudavicius has made a lot of sacrifices, she noted, from training in Thailand to taking a fight in Saudi Arabia. “I said it from the start, I’m not here for a long time I’m here for a good time, and I believe that you reap what you sow. And the amount of sacrifice and work that I’m doing now will show well for me.”
Watch Jasmine Jasudavicius’ full UFC 315 media day appearance above.
