Claudia Gadelha Expects a Title Shot With UFC Fight Night 117 Win

Claudia Gadelha discussed her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC Fight Night 117, a possible title shot and more in a new interview with MMAjunkie. The highlights are below:

On a potential title shot against Joanna Jedrzejczyk if she wins: “I think that, getting past Jessica, I won’t have anything else to prove to anyone. I had two close fights with Joanna. If I don’t deserve that title shot, I don’t think anyone else does.”

On Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas at UFC 217: “I think Rose doesn’t stand a chance against Joanna.”

On not wanting to face Andrade: “I’m coming off a win, so I’d rather be fighting someone who was also coming off a win.”

On fighting on the card: “All the respect, the hierarchy – that’s very important to me. I wanted to fight in Japan one day. And since (the UFC doesn’t) go there every day – or even every year – I wanted to be on this card, so I asked for it.”

On who she would have rather been facing: “It’s a soap opera at this point, but I think Carla Esparza and I should fight. I think this fight should happen. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity. I also even thought about Felice (Herrig), who’s coming off a few wins. I did want to fight someone coming off a win. But then nobody said yes, only Jessica.”

On Esparza: “I don’t know what goes on with her. I don’t think she’s professional. I think she fights more for the money. She has no goals in the division. She was the champion once, but I think she got very lax. She fights for the sake of it. She doesn’t really want anything, she has no objectives in there.”

On being physically ready for the fight: “I’m waking up when I would be waking up there, sleeping when I should be sleeping there, and training when I should be fighting there. This is what’s been very productive in my training: I can move around my coaches and the people who help out in my camp so it all revolves around me.”

On Andrade: “Jessica has some good physical characteristics: She’s very strong, she’s got a lot of heart, and she moves forward against her opponents. I think we have similar physical features, as I’m also one of the strongest in the division. But I don’t think she’s a very technical fighter. I think she lacks a lot in that department, and that’s where I have to work.”