Jessica Andrade has some lofty goals that start with beating Jedrzejczyk at UFC 211

Jessica Andrade has a big task in front of her tonight in the UFC 211 co-main event. But if she succeeds, she wants to start checking off some other life goals afterward.

Andrade (16-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) challenges women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the title at the event, which takes place at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass.

Brazil’s Andrade comes in on a three-fight winning streak; the champ is going after her fifth straight title defense and is the favorite in the fight. But Andrade is eyeing the upset and what being a UFC champion could do to change not just her life, but the lives of those closest to her.

“After getting the belt, I’d like to buy a home and help my family out,” Andrade told MMAjunkie. “I’ll keep training hard because I’m sure that after my victory, there will be even better opponents. Now I’ll only face the best of the best. It’s what I always wanted – to be among them. I’ll give my best to become the champ.”

She also plans on being smart with the bigger paychecks that will come with a title around her waist.

“I have to invest my money,” she said. “Even though I’m only 25, eventually this will end. Fighting is a thankless life. I want to invest my money in real estate. Going forward, I want to help my team and academy. I want to buy a home for my mother. I want to see everyone happy – it’s my goal. My investments should help me stay afloat after I retire so I don’t have to ask for anyone’s assistance or keep teaching classes indefinitely. And I also want to give a good future for my children since I plan to have some.”

Clearly, Andrade has things pretty well plotted out. But it all has to start with a win over Jedrzejczyk, the confident Polish champion who has fashioned herself as one of the game’s elite strikers.

But Andrade and her team have looked deep into her opponent’s game and believe they have found holes – all while acknowledging that Jedrzejczyk keeps getting better every time out in one way or another, just like Andrade believes she has.

“Joanna gets better with each fight,” Andrade said. “I respect her a lot. I can’t wait to fight. I’ll be facing the best in the world in the strawweight division. (But) we were able to see that Joanna does have weaknesses, and we’ll be working with that in mind. I’ll be cutting off the distance, and striking blow for blow. Whenever that happens, she tries to get out of it. My strategy is to pressure her the entire time. I know I have stamina for five rounds.”

For more on UFC 211, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.