Jessica Andrade is an enigmatic brawler. She has drawn comparisons to both Wanderlei Silva and John “F**king” Lineker, two of the greatest of all time at “swangin’ and bangin'”.
“Wandrade” returns for a title eliminator against Karolina Kowalkiewicz on the main card of UFC 228. Tune in on Saturday, September 8th.
Jessica Andrade 2.0
The UFC has seen substantial growth from Brazil’s Andrade since her promotional debut in 2013.
At 135 pounds, she was a 5’2 bowling ball. Andrade quickly gained a reputation for non-stop aggression, crashing forward while swinging hooks to the head. Against Rosi Sexton, she showed flashes of a powerful kicking game in the midst of her onslaught.
Ultimately larger, skilled opponents at bantamweight like Liz Carmouche and Raquel Pennington exploited her size and technical deficiencies in prolonged clinch matches and pushed Andrade to fight off her back.
Since dropping to 115, Andrade has been a force of nature. Brian Stann famously remarked that Andrade told him she does not do any strength and conditioning. The impossibly strong brawler claims her power comes from growing up on the farm.
One of the best adaptations Andrade made was to mix up her combinations to the body. Draining the life from her foe with shocking impact complements her ridiculous pace and pressure.
While Andrade still often relies on insane blitzes, she has made great use of short level changes to single legs, where she can lift and toss most women with ease. Because of her stature, her opponent’s legs are never too far away. Expect a “Jessica Andrade Slam Highlight” in the near future.
Suggested Fighter
If you love fearless Brazilians who aren’t afraid to engage in violent flurries, check out Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. A more refined striker than Andrade, ZDS mixes up his attack with a variety of Muay Thai strikes and the occasional capoeira technique.
That switch knee to the body is one of the most aesthetic strikes I’ve ever seen.
He’ll be back in action later in September, look out!
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