Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Jessica Andrade
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Pegged for UFC Shenzhen belt defense
Andrade will defend her strawweight title against Weili Zhang in the main event of UFC Shenzhen on Aug. 31, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Andrade won't get a coveted pay-per-view slot for her first defense of her strawweight belt, and she will certainly have the crowd rooting against her versus the China native. Andrade took home the strawweight belt via KO (slam) at 2:58 of Round 2 at UFC 237 versus Rose Namaunas and carries a four-match winning streak into her first title defense. Many thought a Namajunas rematch was next in line, but with the former champ instead wishing to take some time off, the UFC will turn to the No. 6-ranked contender. It's only a three-fight sample size for Zhang, but Andrade has statistical edges in striking volume and offensive wrestling, while Zhang gets the nod in terms of striking defense. Even in enemy territory and conceding height and reach advantages to Zhang, the pedigree of Andrade means she's likely to be the betting favorite.
Andrade won't get a coveted pay-per-view slot for her first defense of her strawweight belt, and she will certainly have the crowd rooting against her versus the China native. Andrade took home the strawweight belt via KO (slam) at 2:58 of Round 2 at UFC 237 versus Rose Namaunas and carries a four-match winning streak into her first title defense. Many thought a Namajunas rematch was next in line, but with the former champ instead wishing to take some time off, the UFC will turn to the No. 6-ranked contender. It's only a three-fight sample size for Zhang, but Andrade has statistical edges in striking volume and offensive wrestling, while Zhang gets the nod in terms of striking defense. Even in enemy territory and conceding height and reach advantages to Zhang, the pedigree of Andrade means she's likely to be the betting favorite.
Escapes armed robbery
Andrade was robbed at gunpoint in Brazil recently but suffered no physical injuries, Mike Bohn and Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie report.
ANALYSIS
Andrade and her wife were robbed of their car and all their possessions but escaped unscathed otherwise. This comes just a couple weeks after Andrade was newly minted as the UFC Women's Strawweight Champion following her knockout of Rose Namajunas at UFC 237.
Andrade and her wife were robbed of their car and all their possessions but escaped unscathed otherwise. This comes just a couple weeks after Andrade was newly minted as the UFC Women's Strawweight Champion following her knockout of Rose Namajunas at UFC 237.
New UFC Women's Strawweight Champ
Andrade is the new UFC Women's Strawweight Champion after defeating Rose Namajunas via KO (slam) at 2:58 of Round 2 at UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
What a fight. It wasn't Andrade's best effort by a long shot, but she is walking out with the championship she came for, in addition to an extra $100,000 due to both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses. Jessica looked overmatched and hesitant throughout the course of Round 1. Her striking and aggressiveness were nowhere to be found. It was much the same through the first half of Round 2 before Andrade dropped Rose right on her head with a huge slam and knocked her out cold. It was a thing of beauty, but the entire outcome was arguably a bit fluky. If the two end up in an immediate rematch, Jessica isn't going to be able to rely on a miracle slam to retain her belt. The one thing Andrade did have going for her was a significant accumulation of damage to the lead leg of Namajunas, so that will be a factor to look out for in the event of a rematch. Nonetheless, the circle is complete for the Brazilian. She entered the company as nothing but a roster-depth bantamweight in July 2013, and a tad under six years later, she is a UFC champion. The party is just getting started in Rio.
What a fight. It wasn't Andrade's best effort by a long shot, but she is walking out with the championship she came for, in addition to an extra $100,000 due to both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses. Jessica looked overmatched and hesitant throughout the course of Round 1. Her striking and aggressiveness were nowhere to be found. It was much the same through the first half of Round 2 before Andrade dropped Rose right on her head with a huge slam and knocked her out cold. It was a thing of beauty, but the entire outcome was arguably a bit fluky. If the two end up in an immediate rematch, Jessica isn't going to be able to rely on a miracle slam to retain her belt. The one thing Andrade did have going for her was a significant accumulation of damage to the lead leg of Namajunas, so that will be a factor to look out for in the event of a rematch. Nonetheless, the circle is complete for the Brazilian. She entered the company as nothing but a roster-depth bantamweight in July 2013, and a tad under six years later, she is a UFC champion. The party is just getting started in Rio.
Vying for strawweight belt at UFC 237
Andrade will fight Rose Namajunas for the strawweight title on May 11 at UFC 237 in Brazil, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Andrade has been on a tear since moving all the way down from bantamweight to strawweight, winning six out of seven fights, including her last three. She is coming off a quick, round one knockout victory back in Septmeber. Her opponent, strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, is also coming into the fight on a three-fight winning streak, but will step into the octagon for the first time in over a year, with her last fight, a unanimous decision victory over Joana Jedrzeczyk, coming back in April. Andrade, a Brazilian, will look to use her size advantage to her benefit in front of what will likely be a favorable crowd.
Andrade has been on a tear since moving all the way down from bantamweight to strawweight, winning six out of seven fights, including her last three. She is coming off a quick, round one knockout victory back in Septmeber. Her opponent, strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, is also coming into the fight on a three-fight winning streak, but will step into the octagon for the first time in over a year, with her last fight, a unanimous decision victory over Joana Jedrzeczyk, coming back in April. Andrade, a Brazilian, will look to use her size advantage to her benefit in front of what will likely be a favorable crowd.
Makes quick work of Karolina Kowalkiewicz in the co-main event of UFC 228
Andrade defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz via knockout (punch) at 1:58 of Round 1 at UFC 228 on Saturday in Dallas.
ANALYSIS
Andrade has been on a run since moving down to flyweight, and it continued here. It looked like she was going to win the fight in the first minute. She came out with a combination and nearly decked her opponent. However, Kowalkiewicz regained her composure and began to land combinations from the outside. However, about a minute later, Andrade waded in with another wild combination and put the lights out. This was a very powerful knockout for a 115-pound individual, and she may have earned another shot at the division's title.
Andrade has been on a run since moving down to flyweight, and it continued here. It looked like she was going to win the fight in the first minute. She came out with a combination and nearly decked her opponent. However, Kowalkiewicz regained her composure and began to land combinations from the outside. However, about a minute later, Andrade waded in with another wild combination and put the lights out. This was a very powerful knockout for a 115-pound individual, and she may have earned another shot at the division's title.