UFC flyweight Jessica Andrade is determined to bring a win back to Brazil as she faces Jasmine Jasudavicius on May 10 at UFC 315.
This fight is highly anticipated, with the winner potentially earning a spot as a contender for the flyweight title. Andrade enters the octagon looking to rebound from her recent loss to Natalia Silva and is intent on regaining her momentum. Jasudavicius, on the other hand, rides into the bout on a four-fight winning streak three of which came against Brazilian fighters. She submitted Ariane da Silva and Priscila Cachoeira before earning a decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva.
“I don’t have to cut too much weight to compete in this weight class, so I’m happier than ever,” Andrade told MMA Fighting. “And I’m ready for Jasmine’s game. I know she’s evolving on the feet, but her strongest weapon is her ground game. And you have to be a truck to take me down [laughs], so I think it’s going to be a very interesting fight.”
“I’m ranked higher than [Jasudavicius] at 125, but she’s still a dangerous opponent, coming off wins against three Brazilians,” Andrade continued. “Everybody keeps telling me, ‘You have to stop her; she’s getting cocky for beating Brazilians.’ I got this. I’ll do a good job and bring the win home. Then I’ll ask for a title shot at 115. Everything changes when you get a win on your record especially in a heavier weight class.”
Andrade has won her last two strawweight bouts in the UFC knocking out Mackenzie Dern and edging out Marina Rodriguez by split decision. Her upcoming bout with Jasudavicius will mark her 29th UFC appearance. She has set a personal goal to reach 40 fights in the promotion and is focused on making each one count before finally retiring . A strong performance this weekend could be her next step toward another title opportunity.
“My goal was to fight at 115, but there’s no one available right now,” Andrade explained. “Virna [Jandiroba] is someone I wouldn’t like to fight anytime soon. We’re friends, and we’ve agreed to only fight if it’s for the belt. Amanda Ribas’ dad told me they wouldn’t take a fight with me either unless it’s for a title or a title eliminator. So the only option was to move up to 125 again. Otherwise, I’d be stuck on the sidelines for a long time. For now, I’ll keep fighting in both divisions, but my plan is to stay at 115.”
She continued, “I met Amanda’s dad at a UFC event, and he said they turned down a fight with me unless it was for the belt. I respect that. It’s getting hard to find opponents at 115. I’ve fought nearly everyone there are maybe only three or four fighters left that I haven’t faced.”
Looking ahead, Andrade hopes to challenge a top-ranked strawweight after UFC 315. She’s open to climbing her way back up but wouldn’t mind a fast track if the opportunity arises.
“I even thought they would give me Alexa [Grasso] now, but she’s already booked against Natalia Silva at UFC 315,” Andrade said. “So I’ll wait and see what happens in my fight. Hopefully, I can finish it before the third round and call someone out. I want to win this fight and ask for a title shot or at least a top contender.”
Despite being the underdog heading into UFC 315, Jessica Andrade remains confident. She believes she can finish Jasudavicius and set herself up for another run at UFC gold. With years still ahead in her career, Andrade isn’t just fighting for a win she’s fighting for legacy.
