Stolen car is seized from MMA team in Rio

Jéssica won in the straws' debut. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Shortly after successfully debuting in the UFC's women's strawweight division, Jéssica “Bate-Estaca” saw her name indirectly involved in a controversy. The fighter was reportedly seen at a police checkpoint in Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, in which the car in question was seized as it was allegedly a stolen vehicle.

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The driver of the car was Gilliard “Paraná”, leader of the PRVT academy and Jéssica's manager. The first reports indicated that the fighter was inside the vehicle stolen during the seizure, but, in a conversation with the “Combate” channel website, Gilliard clarified the events.

“I was stopped during a routine traffic stop. I just bought a car and it's under investigation, so we don't know what's going on. Then, everyone says what they want. Jessica was coming in another car with our physical trainer. I was stopped and I was with four other students. Then Jéssica came to pick me up. That's when someone saw her and thought she was in the car too”, explained the team leader, who added: “I'll probably just be a witness in the case, proving that I really didn't do anything wrong. I bought the car in good faith and it turned out to have this problem. But people make a f***ing fuss. Unfortunately, here in Rio de Janeiro things are tough. I never thought this would happen. Jessica has nothing to do with this business. I actually bought the car and this happened. The only bad thing was that my car was impounded, because it is suspicious. Then someone passed by, saw us standing there and made a fuss,” he commented.

At 24 years of age, Jessica Andrade recently made her debut in the strawweight category, in which she defeated the former challenger for the belt Jessica penne by technical knockout.