While still in pursuit of another UFC title reign, former strawweight queen Jéssica Andrade is also targeting another type of championship...
Andrade has been searching for a path back to gold ever since Zhang Weili rendered her rule over the 115-pound weight class short-lived back in 2019. That's been the case at both strawweight and flyweight, with the Brazilian unsuccessfully challenging for the belt in the latter division against Valentina Shevchenko three years ago.
"Bate Estaca" remains ranked highly in both weight classes and is coming off back-to-back triumphs at the weight she formerly held the title at. Next, however, she's tasked with defending her #6 position on the 125-pound ladder.
Andrade will fight a fellow countrywoman for the third straight time at this weekend's UFC Fight Night, sharing the cage with fast-charging striking specialist Natália Silva inside the Apex.
While a victory will no doubt see her remain focused on her goal of title crownings in multiple divisions, she's also eyeing a piece of hardware that transcends divisional boundaries.
Andrade Reiterates Call For Women's BMF Title
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Andrade once again had her attention on the possibility of a symbolic BMF strap being introduced for the UFC's women's roster.
After Jorge Masvidal claimed it in a highly anticipated showdown with Nate Diaz five years ago, the BMF title has since been in the hands of Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway, both of whom claimed it by way of violent knockouts.
Talk of the women getting in on the BMF action has began to pick up this year, and Andrade even believes it could be enough to tempt a UFC Hall of Famer out of retirement.
I’ve been talking to Joanna (Jędrzejczyk) and she said she’d come back. If it’s for this belt, she would come back," Andrade said. "I think that would be a good fight. Joanna, or maybe Angela Hill, who never walks away from a fight and is always there fighting everyone. Or Valentina. Any of those girls would be great, but I think it would be special if it’s Joanna. It would be better.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk, a former UFC strawweight champion, called time on her career following a second defeat at the hands of Zhang at the Singapore-held UFC 275 in 2022. While the 37-year-old played her part in one of the greatest-ever fights first time around, "Magnum" recorded a more definitive victory in the rematch, flooring the Polish legend with a spinning backfist.
Jędrzejczyk has since been honored with an induction into the UFC Hall of Fame, entering the Modern Wing as part of the Class of 2024. But if Andrade is to be believed, a newly created BMF belt could provide enough of a draw for the Pole to reconsider hanging up her gloves.
Before continuing her push for that belt to be introduced, however, Andrade must handle business this weekend when she has her second Octagon assignment of 2024 thus far.