UFC Combat Night time 242’s Jessica Andrade claims she reduce 60 kilos in 32 days for 2017 win over Claudia Gadelha

LAS VEGAS – Jessica Andrade gained’t rule out extra future strikes all the way down to the strawweight division, however stated she’s at the moment experiencing the perfect weight reduce of her profession for her ladies’s flyweight bout in opposition to Natalia Silva at UFC Fight Night 242.

Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC) is the one feminine in UFC historical past to earn victories in three weight lessons. She began as a bantamweight, then went all the way down to strawweight the place she had her greatest success in changing into a UFC champion. Lately, she has spent most of her time at flyweight, however has made some appearances down at 115 kilos.

The matchup with Silva (17-5-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is within the weight class the place she feels most comfy, Andrade stated, regardless of beginning her got here 30 kilos heavier than the place she’s going to weigh in on Friday forward of Saturday’s contest on the UFC Apex (ESPN+).

“(I had) 30 kilos (to chop when) I heard concerning the combat in June in Brazil,” Andrade informed MMA Junkie and different reporters by way of an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “Solely began to do the load reduce right here after I received again on the finish of June (then) July and August. … This has been one in every of my greatest weight cuts. I’m feeling nice so far as coaching is anxious. I’m feeling sturdy, feeling nice and I’m coaching round folks which are waking me up.”

Though 30 kilos appears vital, Andrade stated she solely has 5 kilos remaining to shed. These will doubtless be probably the most tough kilos, however it’s nothing in comparison with what the Brazilian has endured previously. In response to Andrade, her greatest weight reduce got here previous to her unanimous decision victory over Claudia Gadelha in September 2017.

“Yeah, plenty of weight losses previously for the cuts,” Andrade stated. “For the combat in opposition to Gadelha, I really dropped 60 (kilos) in 32 days.”

Andrade, 32, has been by way of lots in her UFC profession, and enters UFC Combat Night time 242 in opposition to Silva with probably the most fights and victories of any feminine in firm historical past. She is going to look so as to add on to these accolades in pursuit of a title shot in any division, or for a BMF belt, and thinks Silva is an effective dance associate to get her there.

“I feel that is nice matchmaking,” Andrade stated. “It’s two good types of combating. When the title got here up we thought of a essential occasion in August. It seems it gave sufficient time for each of us. I feel each of us need to do a tough weight reduce. I feel it’s a lady I see what she’s all about. I’ve seen her since she’s come to the UFC. I’ve adopted her. I’ve cheered her on ever since she’s come right here. So I feel it’s going to be a superb combat since she’s come right here.”

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