The strawweight division was put on notice after Jessica Andrade (15-5) dispatched Jessica Penne at UFC 199, and now the upper echelon is on red alert. Andrade walked through Joanne Calderwood (11-3) at UFC 203 without much issue.
I'm expecting apologies from everyone that disagreed when I said that Andrade was going to maraud her way to a fight with Joanna. #UFC203
— Steven Rondina (@srondina) September 11, 2016
.@JessicaMMAPro looks good at 115lb! #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/2khKw7UaQw
— #UFC203 (@ufc) September 11, 2016
Calderwood fought a smart fight. She opened the fight trying to establish her distance. Calderwood utilized leg kicks and a long jab. Andrade timed Calderwood to dart inside and score with strikes of her own.
Andrade got the clinch early in the round, landed solid knees to the body and forced Calderwood to the fence. Once there, her strength came into play. Andrade took her to the mat, and when Calderwood got up she slammed her to the mat even more emphatically for a second takedown.
Andrade took her time from top. She worked in body shots to soften up Calderwood while working into better positions. Calderwood’s defense was up to par as well. It was a high-quality strawweight contest while it lasted. The end came when Calderwood tried to stand. Andrade peppered her with shots, waited as she turned and jumped on a guillotine. It was a perfectly timed choke that she baited Calderwood into.
Calderwood needed that one. But you leave your neck out there like that, you ought to get choked.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) September 11, 2016
The official end to the contest came at 4:38 of the first round.
Andrade called out Carla Esparza in the cage after beating Jessica Penne (h/t MMAJunkie.com), but the fight never materialized; it should now. And it should be a title eliminator. Andrade is in a position to challenge for gold with one more win. The other contenders are not in a spot to call out Joanna Jedrzejczyk just yet. This is a window of opportunity Andrade can capitalize on, and the UFC can make it happen.
Definite contender. Can beat you a lot of different ways, great style to watch. RT @TommyToeHold: Wow. Andrade is mean AF. #UFC203
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) September 11, 2016
Calderwood made a mistake and got caught, but she didn’t fight a bad fight. She should just go back to the drawing board and continue working on her wrestling defense. If the fight stays standing, she is a big threat in the division.
Andrade’s fight was a great way to open the main card. She announced a new contender at strawweight in a dominant performance.
