November 8, 2023 7:40 pm ET
NEW YORK – Jessica Andrade is going through her worst profession stretch, however she’s not letting that get her.
The previous UFC strawweight champion is on a three-fight dropping streak coming into Saturday’s matchup in opposition to Mackenzie Dern on the primary card of UFC 295, which fits down at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Andrade (24-12 MMA, 15-10 UFC) was completed by her final three opponents, as she received submitted by each Erin Blanchfield and Tatiana Suarez, and knocked out by Yan Xiaonan.
Though the panorama would possibly look grim for Andrade, she’s utilizing the three-fight skid as motivation.
“I believe there may be a whole lot of stress,” Andrade mentioned by means of an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC 295 media day. “Truly, extra stress on myself to show issues round and to have a unique consequence. You clearly really feel the stress to have a unique consequence going ahead. “I believe for me, I’ve seen so many issues all through my profession within the UFC that to me, it’s extra motivation to get again within the win column, motivation to have a comeback, motivation to maintain my place in there. So for me, it’s extra motivation than stress.”
By way of the struggle itself, Andrade is comfortable to have been matched up in opposition to Dern (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC). She believes their abilities promise an motion struggle.
“I believe it’s a terrific struggle so far as matchmaking goes,” Andrade mentioned. “I believe it’s a struggle that ought to’ve occurred up to now, nevertheless it’s lastly taking place. So far as type, she’s undoubtedly received an edge within the jiu-jitsu and her floor sport, however so far as rise up sport, she’s gotten higher in putting, however I don’t assume she’s at my stage. I’m at a really excessive stage of putting. I received that type in opposition to her, so I believe stylistically this can be a actually good matchup.”
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