[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLp9fkCLJgk&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight champ Jessica
Andrade truly believes she has what it takes to upset Valentina
Shevchenko. Training hard to face UFC flyweight queen Shevchenko in the co-main
event of UFC
261, Andrade spoke with Sherdog about what could be the
toughest challenge of her 10-year MMA career.
“I’ve always said Valentina is the most frightening woman in this
sport,” Andrade admitted. “Besides strong, fast and sharp, she is
good everywhere, but MMA is not an exact science. In our sport,
knockout power and a good hand in the right place can surprise all
the odds.”
Using Shevchenko’s last performance against Jennifer
Maia as an example, “Bate Estaca” guaranteed that her Brazilian
countrywoman’s losing effort helped her master Gilliard Parana find
holes in the champ’s game.
“Shevchenko’s weak points are exactly my strong points,” Andrade
explained. “She likes to counter, control the distance and keep the
fight standing. I like to attack, throw and ground-and-pound. And
certainly, the smaller Octagon [at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas] will
be better for me in that fight.”
Andrade also revealed that her coach believes that if she exacts
her perfect game plan, she will dethrone the champion in a tactical
five-round fight, but would not earn a post-fight bonus.
“I told him I’ll get the belt and also the bonus,” Andrade
promised.
Andrade vs. Shevchenko is not the only championship fight on the
card, and she holds a unique vantage point into both competitors in
the headliner. She is one of two women to face Rose
Namajunas twice and Weili Zhang
once. Andrade explained why she believes “Thug Rose” should be the
favorite in the main event.
“Weili is very strong and resistant, but Rose is a more complete
fighter and also hits hard. Furthermore, she has [a] reach and
speed advantage, [which] will play an important role in that fight.
It’s gonna be a tough one, but my bet is that Namajunas will get
the belt,” opined the local from Parana state.
When asked to describe her perfect night on UFC 261, the Brazilian
did not hesitate.
“The perfect night would be beat Valentina who is, in my opinion,
one of the best female fighters of all time and conquer the
flyweight belt. After that, [to] step back in the Octagon a few
minutes later to challenge the strawweight champion for a rematch.
If Rose wins, it would be great to have a chance to have a rubber
match with her; if Weili wins, that would be great too, once I
would love to face her again without illegal elbows on my nape. The
possibility of being the first woman to get flyweight and
strawweight UFC belts, in two fights, after 10 years of hard work
and dedication to that sport would be, no doubt, my biggest dream
achievement.”
UFC 261 will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on April 24,
with a strawweight championship headliner between Zhang and
Namajunas. The co-main event sees Shevchenko defend her flyweight
crown against Andrade. Other key main card bouts include a
middleweight rematch between Chris
Weidman and Uriah Hall,
while Anthony
Smith faces Jimmy Crute
at light heavyweight.
