‘Wasn’t the Amanda Nunes We’re Used to Watching’- Jessica Andrade Rubbishes Julianna Peña’s Performance Against Amanda Nunes, Favors Her Own Odds to Beat Her
Former UFC title challenger Jessica Andrade talked about an upcoming match-up that is sure to grab headlines in women’s MMA. On a recent iteration of MMA Fighting’s Portuguese podcast, The Brazilian shared her candid thoughts on the current 135-pound women’s champion.
According to Andrade, Julianna Peña is an easy fight for her when pitted against some of the big names she’s faced in the division. ‘Bate Estaca’ has gone toe-to-toe against top fighters in three different weight classes, including Valentina Shevchenko, Rose Namajunas, and Zhang Weili, to name a few.
Jessica Andrade doesn’t make much of Julianna Peña’s skill set
Per Andrade, Peña’s impressive outing against Nunes to capture the belt was a product of Nunes failing to show up on fight day. Jessica Andrade wasn’t impressed with the way the ‘Venezuelan Vixen’ went about submitting Nunes and felt that Nunes’ weight cut affected her.
“In theory, it’s easier to fight Julianna, especially for what she’s showed against Amanda,” Andrade said. “I really think it was more of Amanda [losing than Peña winning], because Amanda is way better than what she’s showed. She was submitted with no hooks in, you could see the pressure wasn’t too much.”
“But I don’t know how Amanda’s weight cut was — it was two years since her last fight [at bantamweight], so something might have affected and led to that. She got tired so quickly. It wasn’t the Amanda we’re used to watching. Maybe she will show the Amanda we know in this rematch and get the belt back.”
Moreover, Jessica Andrade believes that a smooth weight cut is most certainly the way to go for Amanda Nunes in a rematch, and she also favors her own chances against the bantamweight champion.
“If that doesn’t happen, I really think it’s easier to fight Julianna than the girls at 125 and 115. I hope we get the opportunity to fight one day and it’s for the belt. I think it’s the easier matchup, no doubt.” [h/t MMA Fighting.com]
Julianna Peña certainly has her work cut out for her, as she’s sure to collide against a highly motivated opponent in Nunes. Only time will tell if Peña’s words ring true once the rematch is done and dusted.
