Dana White: Joanna Jedrzejczyk ‘probably’ gets first crack at champ Carla Esparza

PHOENIX, Ariz. — While Friday saw the crowning of the UFC’s first female strawweight champion, Saturday saw the crowning of that division’s likely first number-one contender.

In a fight that showcased her exceptional takedown defense and aggression, Polish striker Joanna Jedrzejczyk captured a split decision over heavy favorite Claudia Gadelha on the preliminary card at UFC on FOX 13. Afterward, at UFC on FOX 13’s post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White alluded to Jedrzejczyk being the first test for UFC 115-pound champion Carla Esparza.

“I love the way this girl fights. I love her striking,” White said of Jedrzejczyk.

“That was one of those fights that, people were asking me earlier back there, do you think she won? I have no problem with her winning, and if they raised Claudia’s hand, I wouldn’t (argue). That’s how close that fight was. It was a super close fight and, you know, we hung out and watched the show tonight. She’s probably going to get the next (title) shot.”

A decorated Muay Thai fighter who holds multiple world titles in the sport, the 27-year-old Jedrzejczyk dropped Gadelha late in the first round with a flush right uppercut but was unable to finish before the horn. Gadelha then turned to her wrestling, however Jedrzejczyk made it a chore, fighting off a majority of Gadelha’s takedown attempts and peppering her with elbows and short punches off her back to win over two of the three cageside judges.

The storyline was there for a Gadelha win, as the Brazilian was twice scheduled to challenge Esparza in Invicta FC but twice pulled out of the fight. Though with Jedrzejczyk scoring the upset, Jedrzejczyk could very well become the first challenger to get a shot at Esparza, who on Friday’s submitted Rose Namajunas to capture the UFC’s inaugural strawweight title.

“It was quite a good fight,” Jedrzejczyk said of Esparza’s performance. “She did well. She did wrestling, it’s her style, good style. And she counterpunched. But I’m learning, because I did Muay Thai for 10 years, more than 10 years, and I’m learning more and more wrestling, grappling, and everything involved in this MMA. I want to be the best and I just want to have this title.”

PHOENIX, Ariz. — While Friday saw the crowning of the UFC’s first female strawweight champion, Saturday saw the crowning of that division’s likely first number-one contender.

In a fight that showcased her exceptional takedown defense and aggression, Polish striker Joanna Jedrzejczyk captured a split decision over heavy favorite Claudia Gadelha on the preliminary card at UFC on FOX 13. Afterward, at UFC on FOX 13’s post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White alluded to Jedrzejczyk being the first test for UFC 115-pound champion Carla Esparza.

“I love the way this girl fights. I love her striking,” White said of Jedrzejczyk.

“That was one of those fights that, people were asking me earlier back there, do you think she won? I have no problem with her winning, and if they raised Claudia’s hand, I wouldn’t (argue). That’s how close that fight was. It was a super close fight and, you know, we hung out and watched the show tonight. She’s probably going to get the next (title) shot.”

A decorated Muay Thai fighter who holds multiple world titles in the sport, the 27-year-old Jedrzejczyk dropped Gadelha late in the first round with a flush right uppercut but was unable to finish before the horn. Gadelha then turned to her wrestling, however Jedrzejczyk made it a chore, fighting off a majority of Gadelha’s takedown attempts and peppering her with elbows and short punches off her back to win over two of the three cageside judges.

The storyline was there for a Gadelha win, as the Brazilian was twice scheduled to challenge Esparza in Invicta FC but twice pulled out of the fight. Though with Jedrzejczyk scoring the upset, Jedrzejczyk could very well become the first challenger to get a shot at Esparza, who on Friday’s submitted Rose Namajunas to capture the UFC’s inaugural strawweight title.

“It was quite a good fight,” Jedrzejczyk said of Esparza’s performance. “She did well. She did wrestling, it’s her style, good style. And she counterpunched. But I’m learning, because I did Muay Thai for 10 years, more than 10 years, and I’m learning more and more wrestling, grappling, and everything involved in this MMA. I want to be the best and I just want to have this title.”