Could a Jessica Andrade vs Miesha Tate fight be possible? The former strawweight champion would “love” to be on the welcoming committee if Tate does move down to flyweight, as she recently suggested.
The idea of Tate (19-8) taking her talents to flyweight became a possibility following Julianna Pena’s shocking victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Because of her long-time friendship with the new 135 champ, “Cupcake” prefers not to fight a pal and would seriously consider moving down to the 125-pound division.
“I know that Julianna can make 125 and I can make 125. There’s also those things too. It’s not out of the question for either of us to go hunting [flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko] at some point. There’s lots of dynamics,” Tate told MMAJunkie. “I know she really wants that fight too so we’d have to see what happens if everything continues to play out in that direction, there’s always that possibility of us going to 125 for either of us too.”
Jessica Andrade vs Miesha Tate is possible if Tate drops ko down to flyweight
Well, if the former bantamweight champion does officially make the transition to flyweight, Andrade (22-9) wants to be her debut fight huckleberry. The former strawweight champion and 125-pound contender told MMAFighting she would relish the opportunity to face a fighter that inadvertently aided her in landing with the UFC, in a dream fight between two former titlists.
“I recently read that Miesha is thinking about the idea of going down to 125 pounds and I would love to be her first opponent in this new weight class,” Andrade said. “Maybe she never thought about it, but I entered the UFC because of her. When she went to shoot TUF with Ronda [Rousey] and withdrew from a fight with Liz Carmouche, I was signed as her replacement.”
“[Tate and I] went different directions in the organization, but I followed her this entire time in the UFC when I still competed at 135,” she added. “She won the 135 belt right after I dropped to 115. I believe that a fight between a former strawweight champion and a former bantamweight champion would be an interesting show for the fans.”
Tate made her return to the Octagon after a five year retirement earlier this year. Beating Marion Reneau by third-round technical knockout. However, in her follow up against Ketlen Vieira in November, she came up short via unanimous decision.
Since moving to the flyweight division in October 2020, “Bate Azteca” has won two out of three, with her lone defeat against reigning division GOAT Shevchenko.
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