Dodson going up 10, Andrade down 20

Two-time flyweight title challenger John Dodson is moving up ten pounds and one division, while Brazil’s Jessica Andrade is dropping 20 pounds.

Dodson came close to dethroning flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in their first fight, but his second attempt last month was not close. Dodson has a champion’s mindset, and there is no 115 pound division, so the rational decision is to move up from flyweight to bantamweight. Further, Dodson knocked out current UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in the TUF 14 finale, back in 2011. It remains one of only two career losses for Dillashaw, and the sole time he was stopped.

The bantamweight division is not deep, so another title shot for Dodson could be forthcoming with a single win.

Dodson cited the new IV ban a spur to the move up, but Jessica Andrade is headed way, way down. The Brazilian striker went 4-3 in the UFC, but is coming off a loss to Raquel Pennington last month. She told Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting that the cut would not be problematic.

“It’s easy,” said Andrade. “I expected it to be way more complicated, but I managed to stay at 132 pounds and eat well.”

Still, women characteristically have a tougher time cutting that men, so a cut of 16 pounds is remains serious.