Andrade returns to the strawweight division following a three-fight departure for flyweight, where she earned first-round stoppage wins over Katlyn Chookagian and Cynthia Calvillo on either side of a second-round stoppage loss to champion Valentina Shevchenko. Now the former strawweight titleholder returns to the 115-pound ranks in search of her first win since her title victory over current champ Rose Namajunas.
There is a queue of contenders building in the strawweight division at the moment, with Namajunas penciled in to defend her title against former champ Carla Esparza next month, and Marina Rodriguez seemingly already next in line. The winner of this one will certainly claim a place near the front of the line, especially if they can win with style points.
Lando Vannata vs. Charles Jourdain
Tell me just reading that these two lunatics — and I mean that in the absolute best way possible and with the utmost respect — are going to share the Octagon together doesn’t put a smile on your face?
Following years of entertaining fights and inconsistent results as a lightweight, Vannata made the move down to featherweight last year and emerged with a split decision win over Mike Grundy at UFC 262 in his debut. It shouldn’t have been a split decision; Vannata outlanded the British wrestler by a solid margin in all three rounds and never spent more than 94 seconds on the canvas in any frame.
Jourdain bet on himself and fought out his contract in December, delivering a dominant effort capped by a scream and a “Sparta kick” in his win over Andre Ewell. With a fresh new deal and wins in two of his last three outings, the 26-year-old French-Canadian looks to keep things moving forward with a big win over a fellow all-action fighter here.
There is no way this will be boring. None. Neither man is capable of being in that kind of fight individually and putting them together isn’t going to change that. Settle in before this one gets started and enjoy the beautiful chaos this two combine to create.
Sumudaerji vs. Manel Kape
The flyweight division has grabbed a little corner of the spotlight in recent weeks and this one should help ensure that corner gets a little bigger going forward.
Sumudaerji has won three straight since suffering a second-round submission loss in his promotional debut, with the last two victories coming since returning to flyweight. The 26-year-old “Tibetan Eagle” has good length and power for the division and has continued showing improvements each time out, making him one of the more intriguing up-and-coming fighters on the roster.
Kape arrived in the UFC amidst much fanfare, only to land on the wrong side of the scorecards in each of his first two fights. He bounced back with a first-round stoppage win over Ode’ Osbourne at UFC 265, and closed out the year with a second consecutive first-round triumph in December against Zhalgas Zhumagulov.
These two have earned finishes in 30 of their combined 33 career victories, so this should be an action-packed affair for as long as it lasts… which probably won’t be the full 15 minutes.
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera (April 30)
Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera
Bantamweight might be the most deep and competitive division going at the moment, and this one supports that argument, as Font and Vera clash in a battle of Top 10 talents looking to improve their standing in the talent-rich weight class.
Font makes his third straight main event appearance after dropping a unanimous decision to Jose Aldo last December. The New England Cartel member had won four straight prior to running into “The King of Rio,” stopping Marlon Moraes at the end of 2020 and defeating former champ Cody Garbrandt last spring.