Jessica Andrade steps inside the Octagon at UFC on ESPN 50 this coming weekend in desperate need of a victory. The former strawweight champion has lost two in a row, with both defeats coming by finish. She faces Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event live on ESPN.
UFC On ESPN 50: Jessica Andrade In Must-Win Situation
No fighter ever wants to be on the losing end of three consecutive fights. But that is what is staring in the face of Jessica Andrade this coming weekend.
Andrade battles Tatiana Suarez at UFC on ESPN 50 in the co-main event. The card features Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font in the headline act.
A former strawweight champion Andrade is just two fights removed from winning three in a row, She was submitted by Erin Blanchfield in February and lost by knockout to Yan Xiaonan in her return to the division in May.
Andrade has remained active, so you have to give her credit for that. But it has been four years now since she wore UFC gold, besting Rose Namajunas with a slam to claim the title at UFC 237.
Since that win, she is 4-5 overall, losing to Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title in 2021 and in a rematch with Namajunas the year before.
Tatiana Suarez Wants To Remain Unbeaten
Andrade’s opponent, Suarez, is a former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, besting Amanda Cooper in 2016 for the crown. She spent almost four years away after her 2019 win vs. Nina Ansaroff, returning in February.
That was a perfect showing her Suarez, as she submitted Montana De La Rosa in the second round to earn “Performance of the Night” honors.
Needless to say, with nine wins in nine fights, including six finishes, this will be a tough challenge for Andrade.
Jessica Andrade Has Been Here Before
Well, not quite to the extent of her current losing skid, but Andrade has been forced to battle back during her career. She suffered a loss to Liz Carmouche in her UFC debut back in 2013 before winning three in a row.
One of those was a 2014 finish of Larissa Pacheco, who last year topped Kayla Harrison in PFL. She also rebounded from losses to Marion Reneau, Raquel Pennington and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
With wins over the likes of Namajunas, Tecia Torres, Claudia Gadelha, Angela Hill and Jessica Penne, this will definitely be the toughest opponent to date for Suarez.
