Fighter Profile: Jessica Andrade

Andrade after victory Photo courtesy of Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images

Jéssica Andrade is one of the best female fighters in the UFC and is currently ranked first in the UFC Flyweight division right under Current Champion Valentina Schevchenko and sixth in the overall pound for pound rankings. The Former Strawweight champion has a 22-9 record and if you look at her nine losses you will quickly realize that she lost to all of the most dangerous women in the world who were at the top of their game.

 Andrade was born in Umuarama, Paraná, Brazil on September 25, 1991 she is the daughter of parents who were farmers and she would work on her family’s farm until it was municipalized and thus her child labor was not allowed anymore. Growing up she played soccer and she even got offers to play for a São Paulo Soccer club, but her parents would not let her move, at this time Andrade decided to train Judo and eventually would also take up Jiu Jitsu. She’d eventually earn a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Gilliard Paraná.

Andrade would soon turn her focus to MMA. She’d make her professional MMA debut against Weidy Borges on September 6, 2011 Andrade would win by TKO (Punches.) She’d then face Bruna Fernandes winning by TKO (Punches.) She then get the first loss of her career when she faced Kinberly Novaes in May of 2012. She’d get back to her winning ways two weeks later when she faced Lilian Correia winning by TKO (Body Punch.)  She’d win her next five fights before dropping a fight to Jennifer Maia in Samurai FC. She’d win her next two fights both by Submission before going to the UFC.

Andrade would make her UFC debut in July of 2013 when she faced off against Liz Carmouche. Andrade would unfortunately lose the bout by TKO. She’d win her next the fights against Rosi Sexton, Raquel Pennington, and Larissa Pacheco. She’d then lose two of her next three including a rematch with Raquel Pennington. She’d then move down to Strawweight where she’d face Jessica Penne in her Strawweight debut Winning by TKO (Punches.) She’d win her next two fights against Joanne Calderwood and Angela Hill before she faced off against Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 211 for the Strawweight Belt.

Andrade was not deterred and would win her next bout against Cláudia Gadelha. She’d then face Tecia Torres winning by unanimous decision. Karolina Kowalkiewicz would be up next for Andrade she knocked her out in round one. She’d then face Rose Namajunas at UFC 237 the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship. Andrade would win by KO (Slam) and thus winning the title. She’d then lose her belt her next fight when she faced Zhang Weili. She’d then face Namajunas again ultimately losing a Split Decision. She’d get back in the win column against Katlyn Chookagian when she went up a weight class winning by TKO (Body Punches) she’d then get a shot at the Flyweight title against Valentina Schevchenko. Schevchenko would win by TKO (Elbows.) She’d win her next fight against Cynthia Calvillo by TKO (Punches) at UFC 266.

Andrade is set to face Amanda Lemos in April and will hopefully get two in a row.