Jessica Andrade going to fight without sports bra after wardrobe malfunction cost her Erin Blanchfield fight
Jessica Andrade, who lost to Erin Blanchfield back in February, revealed after the match that she was distracted by her breast slipping out of her top during the last sequence of the fight and failed to properly defend Blanchfield's takedown attempt. While she refused to use it as an excuse for her loss, many have speculated that it may have influenced the outcome of the match.
Andrade has learnt from the mistake and heading into her fight at UFC 288, she stated that she was ditching the sports bra for a dry-fit shirt. Speaking to the media during the pre-fight media scrum, Andrade stated:
“Yes, especially because of the weight now. It’s even lower. I had the extra small and asked to make it really tight. I don’t want it to happen. I don’t want anything to be running. I don’t want anything to be exposed. Do not worry. I’m gonna even look fat a little bit. You’re gonna see some fat coming from [some spots], it’s gonna be so tight.”
Watch Jessica Andrade's pre-fight media scrum below:
Andrade fought Yan Xiaonan in a women's strawweight contest at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as part of the UFC 288 pay-per-view card. She lost the bout via first-round knockout.
Wardrobe malfunction UFC: Jessica Andrade doubles down on her stance that the wardrobe malfunction distracted her against Erin Blanchfield
Erin Blanchfield scored the biggest victory of her career when she submitted former women's strawweight champion Jessica Andrade via rear-naked choke in the second round of their February 18 bout.
Jessica Andrade gave Blanchfield the necessary props she deserves but continued to make the case that she had not trained well for the fight. Additionally, a wardrobe malfunction during the fight only added to her woes, claiming that she could have done better in the fight.
Jessica Andrade says she “lost focus” in her #UFCVegas69 defeat to Erin Blanchfield due to her breast slipping out.
The Brazilian promises to be more prepared to let her breast slip out in future fights.
(Per AG Fight via Bloody Elbow) #UFC #MMA https://t.co/As0fNJLvxu
Speaking to the media ahead of her UFC 288 bout against Yan Xiaonan, Andrade doubled down on her stance that the wardrobe malfunction cost her the bout:
"I was worried about my top because it was kind of running there, exposing me. At that point, I was not focused enough on the fight, and I let this one thing kind of stabilize me. And what happened? Got down to the ground. Even in the locker room, coach said, ‘What is the one thing that you cannot let happen? Don’t give your back.’ And, well, this is the learning experience I’ve had. First of all, don’t give your back to Erin Blanchfield. And also focus. Focus on the fight at all times. Don’t let a small thing take the focus off the big thing, because that’s what happened right there. You saw it.”