Familiar Territory

Jessica Andrade made the decision to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division, not out of preference but out of necessity.

The Parana Vale Tudo star will compete at 115 pounds for the first time in nearly two years when she battles the surging Amanda Lemos in the UFC Fight Night 205 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Flyweight opportunities evidently dried up after she put away Cynthia Calvillo with first-round punches at UFC 266 in September, leaving Andrade little choice but to look for work elsewhere.

“I went back to strawweight because none of the girls I wanted to fight at flyweight would agree to it,” she said. “An offer would be made, they’d turn me down and soon, I’d see them booked against someone else. I was getting left behind in the weight class. I figured I needed to fight.”

Andrade reached the pinnacle of her profession as a strawweight in 2019, when she captured the undisputed UFC championship. Though her reign lasted only 112 days, it provided proof that should could indeed excel at the upper reaches of the weight class. Andrade owns a 1-1 record against current strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and also has personal history with current No. 1 contender Weili Zhang. Those stories could write themselves.

“I’m a former champion with a good history within the UFC,” Andrade said. “Even if I’m facing the No. 10 strawweight now, I can see myself getting back to the top of the division. I’m very happy with how things are going. In any weight class I’m in, I always give my maximum effort. I’m looking to break records and show my best in the UFC. I have far to go. I can still improve. Who knows? By the end of this year, I could be champion again.”

First, she must deal with Lemos. The 34-year-old Marajo Brothers Team representative finds herself on a five-fight winning streak and on the verge of title contention. Lemos last competed at UFC Fight Night 199, where she did just enough to eke out a split decision over former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Angela Hill.

“She’s a very good fighter. She’s very strong,” Andrade said. “I feel like her victories already make her worthy of fighting for the belt despite her current ranking. I expect a great fight. It’s important for both of us. We Brazilians always root for our countrymen since we realize how challenging it is to live and train in Brazil. There are often no sponsors and no encouragement. It’s really hard. When we fight other Brazilians, it’s like we’re hurting the other person’s chances. A loss sets you back three steps. Unfortunately, considering the high level in the UFC, we’re all likely to run into each other eventually.

“I expect to give my best and make use of my experience,” she added. “I’ve had some 20 bouts in the UFC. I fought in three different weight classes. I’ll use that to my benefit. Since we’re the main event, there are also more media obligations. She’s never gone through that, nor has she fought five rounds, which is something I’m used to. There are several factors in my favor. I’m going to harness my experience, both on the feet and on the ground. I’m looking forward to bringing another win back to my family and my team.”

Andrade, 30, has adopted the one-fight-at-a-time approach. It keeps her centered on the task at hand.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but just like Batman, wherever I’m needed, I’ll be there,” she said. “My current focus is to beat Amanda and then see what the UFC has for me—if they want me to fight for the strawweight belt or if I should return to flyweight. It’s up to them. I’ll be ready either way.”