Tag: Joanna Jedrzeczyk

Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s upcoming fight with Michelle Waterson is still taking place as planned, at least according to the former champion.

Jedrzejczyk meets Waterson in a strawweight headliner at UFC Tampa this Saturday. However, recent reports suggested the fight was in jeopardy as Jedrzejczyk reportedly informed the UFC a couple of days ago that she would unable to make the 116-pound weight limit.

The report added that Waterson was offered the opportunity to fight the Pole at a catchweight, only for it to be declined. This led to speculation that Jedrzejczyk may be replaced with a different opponent.

However, the former strawweight queen provided an update on Wednesday. She also posted a picture of herself smiling as she was cutting weight, seemingly implying that the fight is still on:

“ #staycalm #everythingisfine @oshee_world #ufctampa #fightweek #oshee,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Jedrzejczyk has never missed weight before, but has notably struggled with the cut to 115 especially when she was the champion. This will also be her first fight in the division since losing her rematch to Rose Namajunas back in April 2018.

Do you think Jedrzejczyk will make the weight? Or will we get a different main event?

The post Joanna Jedrzejczyk Provides Update On UFC Tampa Fight: ‘Everything Is Fine’ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Though she was disappointed at not getting a title shot, Michelle Waterson has the consolation of facing the former champion in Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Waterson was recently announced as the headliner for UFC Tampa opposite Jedrzejczyk. However, there was initial talk that the fight would headline a UFC event in San Francisco. In the end, it was announced that Tampa would be the location for the strawweight headliner. Waterson, however, doesn’t know why the location was changed:

“You know what? Honestly, I don’t know,” she said of why the location was changed on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday. “I don’t know if they were working on trying to get that arena put together. Either way, I’m still very excited that the UFC put us on for a main event and I’m stoked.”

Waterson Had Her Eye On Jedrzejczyk

Waterson was previously campaigning for a title shot against champion Jessica Andrade. Instead, Weili Zhang was given the opportunity. Still, “The Karate Hottie” believes her fight with Jedrzejczyk is a championship fight on its own because of the latter’s legacy:

“I don’t know [why I didn’t get the title shot] and I might have stressed about it for a day but things like that are out of my control,” she explained. “Since I was signed to the UFC, I’ve had my eye on Joanna because she was the longest-reigning champ and when I was signed, she was the champ. So it would be my honor to be able to fight her in a five round fight and in my opinion, this is a championship fight.

“Yeah, obviously I was disappointed [in not getting the title shot] but the truth is, the strawweight division is a very stacked division. I think that Weili, I don’t think many people know about Weili, but she’s definitely a contender and I’m looking forward to watching that fight. The more people that the champ gets to fight, the better it is for me so then I can watch them fight and I have more time to scout them out. I understand everything happens for a reason and this is my journey and I’m just going to ride at the best way I know how.”

UFC Tampa takes place October 12 at the Amalie Arena.

Who do you think takes the UFC Tampa headliner?

The post Michelle Waterson Says UFC Tampa Headliner With Joanna Jedrzejczyk Is A ‘Championship Fight’ appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

A women’s strawweight bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson is official and set to headline the UFC’s return to Tampa.

The fight was previously reported to be in the works last month, though no location was set at the time. However, it was announced by the promotion on Friday that it would take place October 12 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Tickets are set to go on sale later this month.

Jedrzejczyk has gone 1-3 in her last four fights, having most recently suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant women’s flyweight title. She will now return to her natural weight class as she looks to regain her title.

As for Waterson, she has won three fights in a row and a win over the former champion could all but guarantee her getting the next crack at the title.

UFC Tampa will also see the return of Mackenzie Dern, who faces Amanda Ribas in a strawweight bout. Dern last competed at UFC 222 in March last year but has spent time away from the Octagon after giving birth to her daughter. Also on the cards is a flyweight bout between top contender Deiveson Figueiredo and Timothy Elliott.

What do you think of the card so far?

The post Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson Headlines UFC Tampa appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.