After experimenting with a Muay Thai focus in her training camp which ended in a loss to Yan Xiaonan, former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade decided to go back to her roots and training team for her upcoming clash with Tatiana Suarez, hoping to secure her fourth win in 2023 and edge closer to a potential title shot.
Jessica Andrade, renowned UFC fighter, decided to revisit her foundational training strategies to prepare for her clash at UFC Nashville with Tatiana Suarez. This decision was taken after her previous experiment with Muay Thai proved unsuccessful in her fight against Yan Xiaonan. Gilliard Parana, Andrade’s key coach, candidly expressed his dissatisfaction on social media regarding her lackluster performance. Parana even said it felt like she “was in Narnia” during the contest.
As one of UFC’s most active participants, Andrade concurs with her coach’s critique, hence, her quick return to the octagon against Suarez, replacing injured Virna Jandiroba. Andrade sincerely talked about the confusion she experienced during the fight with Yan, admitting that she couldn’t execute what she had learned during training. She detailed on Trocação Franca podcast, how she and her master decided to return to her regular training camp with familiar colleagues and loved ones.
Andrade further acknowledged that it’s possible for any athlete to blank out during a fight, stating that even her preparation in the locker room seemed excellent, but she didn’t feel confident during the actual bout. She recalled her fight with Weili Zhang, expressing how she let her emotions control her, which led to a swift knockout. Nevertheless, she was determined and promised to focus on being a better athlete.
Circling back to training with PRVT Girls again for the Suarez camp, Andrade mentioned that she felt an improvement, with her preparations for UFC Nashville resembling the quality of her training for the triumphant match against Lauren Murphy at UFC 283 in January. Despite a once fought record in 2022 due to a persistent back injury, she has already engaged in her fourth UFC fight in 2023 and aspires to claim the leading spot in the 115-pound category. Facing an undefeated opponent in Suarez, she felt optimistic and confident in her combat strategies, especially her striking and takedown defense, and looked forward to the challenge.