Claudia Gadelha challenges Jessica Andrade, Andrade responds

It has now been almost two months since top strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha’s last fight: a first-round submission of another top-ranked fighter in Karolina Kowalkiewicz back at UFC 212. Apparently, she’s getting eager to get back in there.

On Monday, Gadelha took to Instagram to call out a fellow Brazilian contender in Jessica Andrade, who recently came up short in a bid to capture Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s well-guarded strawweight title.

Li hoje que a @jessicammapro está querendo lutar comigo. Estou esperando a resposta do UFC sobre minha próxima adversária desde que desci do octógono na última luta e ninguém topou até agora. Então Jessica, vamos fazer acontecer?? Estou esperando uma ligação hoje qualquer hora, até se for 2 da manhã. @seanshelby @danawhite @ufc !! I’m waiting to hear about my next fight since I got out of the octagon in my last fight. Nobody stepped in until now but I read today that @jessicammapro wants to fight me. She is got some guts!! Let’s make it happen @jessicammapro @seanshelby @danawhite ?? I’m waiting for a phone call anytime today. 📱 #teamclaudia #TeamCG #mmanerd #ufc

A post shared by CG (@claudiagadelhaufc) on Jul 24, 2017 at 11:04am PDT

“I’m waiting to hear about my next fight since I got out of the octagon in my last fight,” Gadelha said in her Instagram post. “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.”

It did not take long for Jessica Andrade to respond to Claudia Gadelha. In her response, Andrade explained that it wasn’t her intention to call out a fellow Brazilian, but that she’d be more than happy to challenge Gadelha if the UFC wants the fight.

Então as pessoas interpretam errado o que a gente fala, o que foi perguntado para min 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 (@jessicammapro) on Jul 24, 2017 at 2:06pm PDT

“People misinterpret what we say,” Andrade responded  in her post (translation via MMAJunkie.com). “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.”

Do you want to see Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Andrade fight? If so, who do you think wins?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 7/25/2017.