UFC strawweight Jessica Andrade spoke recently with reporters in Rio de Janeiro during a media event. Andrade is ranked #2 in the world; in a sign that fighter compensation in league isn’t right, ‘Bate Estaca’ said she sometimes sells Reebok apparel to make ends meet. 

The fighter was quick to not blame her UFC purses, and instead focused on the lack of sponsorships in Brazil and the decline in the practice of Locker Room bonuses for UFC fighters. She said her last locker room bonus was $8,000 and that makes a huge difference.

Andrade had a big 2017, going 2-1, winning two performance bonuses, and losing a title shot. She has had one fight this year, making $48,000 + $48,000 for a win over Tecia Torres in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 28.

I’m going to my 14th fight in the UFC and it’s really difficult to get sponsors, to get people who want to help you financially, said Andrade to Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting.

I think it would be great if we had a bigger incentive from the government and the city in sports. Not only in fighting, but it lacks a lot for all sports. … Even if it’s only with 500 reais ($120), because 500 reais makes a huge difference by the end of the month.

I have nothing to complain with the UFC because I get paid really well in the UFC. I think you’re paid according to your work, and I think that’s really cool. That’s why I want to be fighting all the time.”

I get by, Fernanda and I, my mother-in-law. Sometimes we bake a cake and sell, we get by the way we can. It’s sad that we have to sell our training gear, things we get in fights that are a good memory of what we had there, but we’ll get new stuff later [laughs]. I have so many of these white hoodies with my name on that no problem selling one, right? [laughs].

We have to go through difficulties to grow. Even though the UFC is millionaire, trillionaire, we have to live our reality. Unfortunately, the UFC makes all that, we don’t. But I’m happy with my job, happy with my salary. I never imagined I would be making as much as I make. My master usually says in training, ‘Jessica made a million reais [$240,000] last year. I look at him and say ‘you liar, I didn’t make that much, it was a bit less’ [laughs], but it’s about knowing how to invest. When I learn to invest in something that brings a result, everything will be alright and I won’t go through many difficulties.

Andrade said she hopes in future to invest in a restaurant or supermarket.

One day I will be able to invest in some other thing,” she said, “and won’t have this problem of having to fight only to get paid.