Andrade Joins Tate Watchers, Craves ‘Cupcake’

Miesha Tate is mighty popular these days.

Not long after the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion was called out by 135-pound nemesis Aspen Ladd, ex-strawweight titleholder Jessica Andrade threw her name into the “Cupcake” lottery for a potential 2022 showdown.

Assuming Tate makes good on her plan to drop weight.

“I recently read that Miesha is thinking about the idea of going down to 125 pounds and I would love to be her first opponent in this new weight class,” Andrade told MMA Fighting. “Maybe she never thought about it, but I entered the UFC because of her, when she went to shoot TUF with Ronda [Rousey] and withdrew from a fight with Liz Carmouche, and I was signed as her replacement.”

Andrade (22-9) started her UFC career in the bantamweight division before dropping all the way down to 115 pounds. The 30 year-old Brazilian eventually settled on flyweight, where she’s just a couple of months removed from her technical knockout win over division bruiser Cynthia Calvillo.

“[Tate and I] went different directions in the organization, but I followed her this entire time in the UFC when I still competed at 135,” Andrade continued. “She won the 135 belt right after I dropped to 115. I believe that a fight between a former strawweight champion and a former bantamweight champion would be an interesting show for the fans.”

The 35 year-old Tate (19-8) recently returned from a five-year hiatus — originally billed as her retirement — to capture a technical knockout win over Marion Reneau. There were rumors of a possible title shot in 2022; however, “Cupcake” was shut down by Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 43 just last month, prompting talk of a potential drop to 125 pounds.

Tate has yet to respond to her latest callout.