Montreal — Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade’s pairing with Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius at this Saturday’s UFC 315 in Montreal took some observers by surprise.
It also caught Brazil’s “Bate Estaca” herself by surprise as well, she admitted during Wednesday’s UFC 315 media day, addressing media outlets including Cageside Press.
Ahead of her 29th fight under the UFC banner, Andrade (26-13) explained that while “I really feel good at flyweight, it feels good on my body,” and that she likes fighting at 125lbs, “I really want to go back to 115.”
That would have happened this time out, were it not for the name UFC matchmakers offered: Fellow Brazilian and strawweight contender Virna Jandiroba. “The bigger thing is, they offered me Virna. And I have a bit of a deal with Virna, that we’re only going to fight each other— we’re friends, but we’re [only] going to be fighting each other if it’s for a title or for the chance to go for a title. So I said no, not this time, we’re not going to fight.”
After turning down the Jandiroba offer, the UFC came back with Jasmine’s name. Jasudavicius sits on a four-fight win streak, with two finishes, and three of those wins coincidentally coming against Brazilians.
Jessica Andrade doesn’t know why the UFC put her together with Jasmine Jasudavicius, “but maybe because I’m a challenge, and I offer a good skill-set,” she told Cageside Press.
Still, as good as flyweight has been to her physically, she intends to head back to strawweight at some point. “I want to go back 115 eventually, but this is a good opportunity. I really feel good, my body is good on 125 but I would like to fight at 115— but I will only fight Virna if it’s for a title.”
Watch Jessica Andrade’s full UFC 315 media day appearance above.
