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UFC's Claudia Gadelha challenges fellow Brazilian Jessica Andrade – who accepts

[sigallery id=”bHDPGRKxZujVbp5hoTDQvD” title=”Jedrzejczyk def. Andrade” type=”sigallery”]

UFC strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha has made no secret of her struggle to get an opponent. So, on Monday, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Fresh off a quick submission win over Karolina Kowalkiewicz at last month’s UFC 212, Gadelha (15-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) called out yet another one of champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s recent victims: fellow Brazilian Jessica Andrade (16-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC).

“I’m waiting to hear about my next fight since I got out of the octagon in my last fight,” Gadelha said on an Instagram post, with versions in both her native Portuguese and English. “Nobody stepped in until now but I read today that (Jessica Andrade) wants to fight me. She’s got some guts. Let’s make it happen.”

Translation from the Portuguese version of the post:

“I read today that (Jessica Andrade) wants to fight me. I’ve been waiting for the UFC to respond about my next opponent since I left the octagon in my last fight, and nobody said yes so far. So, Jessica, let’s make it happen? I’m waiting for a call at any time today, even if it’s at 2 am.”

Andrade later responded to the challenge. While she did say she was “misinterpreted” in her remarks about wanting to fight Gadelha, she accepted the matchup with her fellow Brazilian (via Instagram).

View this post on Instagram

Então as pessoas interpretam errado o que a gente fala, o que foi perguntado para mim era qual seria minha próxima adversária para lutar no UFC e como nunca sabemos quem será nossas adversárias pois é o UFC que decide e fecha as lutas eu disse que em uma próxima luta o UFC podia fechar uma luta com alguma das garotas que estão rankeadas como Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas ou @claudiagadelhaufc ,Mas já que nunca encontram adversárias nem pra @claudiagadelhaufc nem pra min, acho que juntas nós daríamos um show, não é mesmo @claudiagadelhaufc ?? É difícil ter que lutar com uma co-patriota, mas se essa luta acontecer eu tenho certeza que será um belo confronto, Sim eu aceito! @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc @ufc_brasil —————- So the people misinterpret what we are talking about, what was asked for min was what my next opponent to fight in the UFC and how we never know who our opponents will be because it's the UFC that decides and closes the fights I said in a Next fight UFC could close a fight with some of the girls who are ranked as Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas or @claudiagadelhaufc, But since they never find adversaries neither for @claudiagadelhaufc nor for min, I think together we would give a show, is not it really? @claudiagadelhaufc ?? It's hard to have to fight a co-patriot, but if this fight happens I'm sure it will be a handsome showdown, yes I do! @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc @ufc_brasil

A post shared by Jessica Andrade “Bate Estaca” (@jessicammapro) on

“It’s hard to fight a fellow compatriot,” Andrade said. “But if this fight happens I’m sure it will be a great battle. Yes, I accept it.”

Translation from the Portuguese version of the post:

“People misinterpret what we say. What they asked me was who would be by next UFC opponent. Since we never know who our next opponents will be, as the UFC decides and makes the fights, I said that in a next fight they could decide for a few ranked girls like Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas or Claudia Gadelha. But, since they never find opponents neither for Gadelha nor for me, I think together we’d put on a show. Right, Gadelha? It’s hard to fight a compatriot, but if this fight happens I’m sure it will be a great battle. Yes, I accept it.”

Gadelha, who’s ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s strawweight rankings, is riding a two-fight streak since a failed five-round title bid against champ Jedrzejczyk at last July’s TUF 23 Finale. Gadelha’s only other career loss also came at the hands of the current titleholder – though their first meeting, a non-title UFC on FOX 13, ended in a controversial split call.

No. 3 Andrade, in turn, comes off her own unsuccessful attempt at taking Jedrzejczyk’s belt, at UFC 211. Andrade, who started out her UFC career as a bantamweight, went on a three-fight 115-pound streak before earning her shot at the title. Her most recent victims are Jessica Penne, Joanne Calderwood and former Invicta FC champ Angela Hill.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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