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The word “juicy” is never a compliment in mixed martial arts (MMA), unless it’s referring to the song by Notorious B.I.G., used during a fighter’s Octagon walkout.
That didn’t stop former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) strawweight champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, from using it in her description of Weili Zhang, who is expected to fight the Polish puncher at UFC 248 next March in Las Vegas.
“Definitely she’s wild,” Jedrzejczyk said (via MMA Junkie). “She’s not that technical of a fighter, but she’s very strong. She’s big, she’s massive, so that’s why her punches are very juicy. I’m tall in the strawweight division, so I’m never going to be like bully person you know, like big person and very muscular.”
Big enough and muscular enough to make bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo, look small in comparison. While brute strength was enough to rag-doll Jessica Andrade for the division title, it may not be enough to withstand the onslaught from Jedrzejczyk.
“Every opponent is different, and she’s definitely very strong,” Jedrzejczyk said. “She’s young, very hungry, her punches are juicy, and I watch her fight two days ago with Mikey Brown because we – Mikey Brown is crazy about this fight. We’re going to have a good plan, but of course I will have to take this fight second by second. Like I said, she’s very dangerous, but I will show her this Polish power very soon.”
If Zhang watched any tape on Ivan Putski then she’s already seen it.
Jedrzejczyk (16-3) got back into the 115-pound title hunt by turning away Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night 161 back in October. As for Zhang, she improved to 20-1 by smashing and trashing the aforementioned Andrade for the strawweight strap last August.
“Magnum” will look to improve her striking by working with Duke Roufus for UFC 248.