World class martial artist and influencer Jessica Andrade receives O-1 visa
World class martial artist and former UFC Champion Jessica Andrade receives O-1 visa
We are thrilled to announce that yet another successful O-1 petition. We successfully petitioned for a O-1 visa for Jessica Andrade, an exceptionally talented martial artist.
Managing Member of the firm, Sherrod Seward successfully presented the petition proving eligibility on many counts for the O-1 visa, as a World Class Martial Artist to USCIS. He provided as many documents as possible for each of the criteria satisfied by the athlete.
The O-1A Athlete - Former UFC World Champion
Ms. Andrade is a world class mixed martial arts professional with exceptional skills and experience in competition. She has made phenomenal contributions to the mixed martial arts industry as an influencer. She has been competing professionally since 2011. She is an exceptional Jiu Jitsu professional and Mixed Martial Artist who has competed on the world stage. Ms. Andrade has faced tremendous competition and garnered international acclaim from fans all over the world. She holds the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship (world championship), which is the highest honor you can have in this sport. She also has numerous other honors to her credit in the field of mixed martial arts.
The Petitioner SDS Sports Agency
SDS Sports Agency was founded by Sherrod Seward, an award-winning international businessman, sports attorney, and industry professional, in North Carolina in 2020. SDS Sports Agency is a talent management company that focuses on the needs of niche sports and entertainment professionals. SDS Sports Agency helps maximize the branding potential of its clients in the United States by providing access. SDS Sports Agency works with international talent agents and entertainment related companies to market athletes and sports professionals that are renowned internationally. SDS Sports Agency clients routinely have their competitions and engagements viewed all over the world through well-established media networks. SDS Sports Agency prides itself on facilitating to clients the opportunity to be successful in the United States and looks forward to continuing to grow while serving the needs of the world’s best talent.
Sherrod Seward, the founder of SDS Sports Agency, has a vast history in international sports business and marketing. Sherrod learned the sports management/marketing business through mixed martial arts. His international management career began through independent research with one of the best sports law attorneys in the nation. Sherrod has also served as a liaison between mixed martial arts and corporate America as the Corporate Partnership Director for North American Allied Fight Series and a business consultant for many promotions all across the nation. In his role as Corporate Partnerships Director, he facilitated sponsorship activations in new markets, VIP experiences at events, negotiated broadcast agreements, and much more.
The O-1 Petition for former UFC World Champion
We demonstrated that SDS Sports Agency, the petitioner, would like to extend the O-1 status upon the beneficiary, whom they consider to be an exceptionally talented martial artist. In the petition, we showcased the world-class excellence of the beneficiary.
To establish the athlete’s claim for the Extraordinary Ability visa, we can prove her eligibility in one of two ways. The first is evidence of a one-time achievement, that is, a major internationally-recognized award.
Major internationally-recognized award
We established that Ms. Andrade could claim that she is entitled to the O-1A immigrant visa through this route, for the following accomplishment:
UFC Women's Strawweight Champion May 2019
In May 2019, Ms. Andrade won the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship. This is a world level championship. Being the UFC Champion of the world is the highest honor you can have in the sport of mixed martial arts.
We explained that in MMA, making it to the UFC means a fighter is at the top of her game. Winning a UFC championship, though, means that fighter is the best in her weight division and possibly the world.
We also explained the leadership of the UFC in the world of MMA. Starting in 1993 as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, UFC® has revolutionized the fight business and today stands as a premium global sports brand, media content company and the largest Pay-Per-View (PPV) event provider in the world.
The second way to establish the athlete’s claim for the Extraordinary Ability visa is to provide evidence of meeting at least 3 out of 10 requirements. We established an iron-clad case for the beneficiary by providing evidence for 6 requirements:
I. Internationally-recognised Awards
We proved that the beneficiary is a person of extraordinary ability in the field of Mixed Martial Arts by showcasing her awards. We listed the following prestigious international honors and awards won by her:
UFC Women's Strawweight Championship (2019)
Performance of the Night (Three times)
Fight of the Night (Four times)
Most stoppage wins in UFC Women's Strawweight division
Most knockouts in UFC Women's Strawweight division
Most fights in the UFC women's history
2017 September Fight of the Month
2019 May Fight of the Month
2020 July Fight of the Month
Rankings:
Ms. Andrade is ranked number two in the UFC Women’s Strawweight and number six in UFC Women’s pound-to-pound. We put forth that these are prestigious rankings which demonstrate the beneficiary’s excellence at the top echelons of the sport.
II. Memberships in prestigious organizations
To strengthen the petition, we proved that Ms. Andrade is part of teams which require outstanding achievements of their members. The petition also included documents about the organization so as to bring out its prestige and stature.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Ms. Andrade was chosen to be a part of the UFC in July 2013. She is ranked number two in the UFC Women’s Strawweight and number six in UFC Women’s pound-to-pound.
In MMA, making it to the UFC means a fighter is at the top of his game. Winning a UFC championship, though, means that fighter is the best in his weight division and possibly the world. We clearly explained the significance of this membership by sharing the following information about UFC:
Starting in 1993 as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, UFC® has revolutionized the fight business. UFC follows a rich history and tradition of competitive MMA dating back to Pankration, a Greek Olympic Games event introduced in 648 BC. About 80 years ago, a Brazilian form of MMA known as Vale Tudo (anything goes) sparked local interest in the sport. UFC then introduced organized and sanctioned MMA to the United States. The goal was to find “the Ultimate Fighting Champion” by staging a single-night tournament featuring the best athletes skilled in the various disciplines of all martial arts, including karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, grappling, wrestling, sumo and other combat sports. The winner of the tournament would be crowned the champion.
The supporting evidence for the above helped prove the high level of excellence required to be a part of UFC.
III. Internationally-recognised publications
The firm established that Ms. Andrade was featured in numerous publications of international repute, testifying to her exceptional talent and incredible career. We provided the title, date, and author of the title. We also submitted an abstract of the articles to give a preview of the contents of the articles, along with notes on the wide viewership of the articles.
The following articles from illustrious publications were included in the petition:
Sources: UFC targeting Jessica Andrade vs. Jessica Eye bout for October - ESPN, July 31, 2020
Jessica Andrade Career Earnings - The Sports Daily, July 12, 2020
Jessica Andrade Networth - Sportekz, July 11, 2020
UFC 251: Rose Namajunas returns to form; Fight Island results, analysis - ESPN, July 11, 2020
Watch Jessica Andrade claim the UFC women’s strawweight championship by defeating Rose Namajunas at UFC 237 - Fansided, May 2020
Jessica Andrade talks starting family, receiving BJJ black belt - WMMA Rankings - December 19, 2019
UFC 237 bonuses: New champ Jessica Andrade takes home $100K - MMAjunkie, May 12, 2019
Report: Rose Namajunas vs Jessica Andrade strawweight title fight set for UFC 237 on May 11 in Brazil - MMA Mania, January 7, 2019
UFC 228 bonuses: Tyron Woodley, Jessica Andrade among $50,000 winners - MMAjunkie, September 9, 2018
UFC 211 results: Joanna Jedrzejczyk dominates gritty Jessica Andrade for 5th title defense - MMAjunkie, USA Today Sports, May 14, 2017
Jessica Andrade drops down to strawweight division - MMA Fighting, Oct 8, 2015
IV. Original athletic contributions of major significance in the field of professional mixed martial arts
We demonstrated that Ms. Andrade has original athletic contributions of major significance as an eminent expert in professional mixed martial arts. Our evidence highlighted that Ms. Andrade's contribution meets the criteria that the beneficiary has original athletic contributions of major significance.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full combat and unarmed sport that is composed of a mix of wrestling, boxing and traditional martial arts. It is known for its outright aggressiveness and brutality as a sport with very few rules other than those minimally required to maintain a competitor's safety. In this context, it is considered challenging for a fighter to come out as LGBTQ.
There are several MMA fighters who are lesbian, and Ms. Andrade is one of them. She is one of the first openly gay athletes to be a champion in major sports. Ms. Andrade, an Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor, had just gone five rounds with belt holder Joanna Jędrzejczyk. She ended the contest the loser, with a bloody face, but showed enormous spirit in defeat. And once she had discussed the fight with the in-cage interviewer, Andrade showed further courage to take the ultimate leap. She made a mark by proposing marriage to her girlfriend.
V. Performances in a leading or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation
We included evidence of the following critical roles played by Ms. Andrade in organizations with a distinguished reputation as an eminent expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai and a professional Mixed Martial Artist.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Ms. Andrade signed up with UFC in 2013 and has been a Women’s Strawweight Champion. She is a main event and title fight challenger. She is the main attraction at these main events, drawing a large audience. The success of the events, and even the prize money depends on the size of the audience - the bigger the audience, the more successful the event and bigger the winnings.
We also included details about the reputation and reach of the UFC: UFC programming is broadcast in over 165 countries and territories, via more than 60 global broadcast partners, to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in over 40 different languages. UFC has the highest concentration of millennials (ages 18-34) in its fan base with 40% compared to the top sports properties.
VI. Received a high salary or other remuneration
We provided evidence that Ms. Andrade has received a high salary or other remuneration for services.
UFC fighters get paid a base salary on fight night no matter if they win or lose, however there is typically a “win bonus” involved for the winning fighter. The “win bonus” is usually the same as the base salary. There are also the “fight of the night” and “performance of the night” bonuses which are usually an extra $50,000 for fighters who do something extraordinary on fight night.
We quote the article, Jessica Andrade Career Earnings, The Sports Daily, dated July 12, 2020, where Ms. Andrade’s total career earnings is stated as $1,460,000. Ms. Andrade has won over $ 1.7 million in disclosed purse money. We established that she is one of the highest paid women in mixed martial arts history.
Thus, we provided clear and persuasive evidence that the athlete meets multiple criteria and qualifies for the O-1A visa. We showcased Ms. Andrade’s extraordinary abilities substantiated by her credentials and achievements as a world class Professional Mixed Martial Artist. We, therefore, successfully demonstrated that she is unambiguously qualified to be classified as an O-1 athlete of Extraordinary Ability.
For more information on how we help support professional athletes and coaches with O-1 and P-1 visas, please contact our offices at 310-209-8545.