Jessica Andrade delivers food to earn money during UFC layoff
Former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade has taken on food delivery work to supplement her income while recovering from a shoulder injury.
Andrade, who last fought in August 2025 when she lost to Loopy Godinez, told Direto de Vegas that she uses a mobile app to pick up and deliver meals when she needs extra cash. "I'm not afraid of hard work, I can do just about anything," she said, per MMA Fighting.
Andrade's side hustles during UFC recovery
The 33-year-old Brazilian, who holds a 17-13 octagon record across three weight classes, said she has also taken on home renovation projects for friends — including installing artificial turf and painting walls. She recently cleared rocks from a backyard to lay synthetic grass, viewing it as a potential income stream for the future.
Andrade acknowledged she managed to save money from her fighting career but has faced financial difficulties before. In 2018 she admitted selling her own UFC gear to cover expenses. She recently discovered her previous management team failed to pay U.S. income taxes on several 2023 fight purses, though she said that situation is being resolved.
The former 115-pound titleholder previously announced plans to sue ex-coach Gilliard Parana over allegations of embezzling $2 million, but has since decided against moving forward with legal action. Parana denied the accusations when they first surfaced. No timeline has been announced for Andrade's return to the octagon.
Original reporting:
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