After witnessing three UFC titles change hands in shocking fashion at this weekend’s (Sat., Nov. 4, 2017) UFC 217 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, it’s safe to say that the blockbuster event delivered the most exciting, fast-paced night of fights in all of 2017. But that was far from a certainty […]
After witnessing three UFC titles change hands in shocking fashion at this weekend’s (Sat., Nov. 4, 2017) UFC 217 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, it’s safe to say that the blockbuster event delivered the most exciting, fast-paced night of fights in all of 2017.
But that was far from a certainty heading into the high-profile event, as casual fans seemed to be equal parts doubtful and cautiously optimistic about the card, putting the event’s mainstream success in question. Indeed, more seemed to be written about UFC 217’s lack of buzz, with much of that focused on the supposed notion that returning former welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre had lost his connection with fans after nearly four years away from the sport.
That was far from the case, however, if we’re to believe UFC President Dana White – which is something that is unfortunately difficult to do these days – who revealed at the UFC 217 post-fight press conference (via MMA Mania) that UFC 217 had easily surpassed one million buys on pay-per-view, and even broken the previous record for Canadian sales that was just set by august’s Mayweather vs. McGregor:
“I told some of you guys this yesterday. Mayweather vs McGregor had the record in Canada, and we were number two and three. I’m pretty sure this beat Mayweather in McGregor tonight.”
If that proves true, it wouldn’t be the hugest surprise considering St-Pierre was far and away Canada’s biggest combat sports star and remained so even during his four-year break. Much of the emphasis was placed on his clean-cut, respectful demeanor, which many described as the opposite of the trash-talking style of Conor McGregor that currently rules MMA, and many thought this would affect the success of UFC 217, perhaps ever creating a lack thereof.
If you listen to White, though, he always knew it would do a million buys, yet was surprised when it soared past that mark:
“I told you that this would do a million buys, I was way wrong it did over a million, I’ll have a definite answer tomorrow, but it’s looking like we destroyed it.”
Those numbers, if confirmed, come as an extremely needed breath of fresh air for the UFC and owners at Endeavor, as pay-per-view numbers have consistently plummeted during a 2017 without McGregor or any other bankable star outside of provisionally suspended Jon Jones.
Maybe, just maybe, Georges St-Pierre wasn’t the box office flop everyone made him out to be.
Rose Namajunas has a certain plan she likes to follow. In a similar routine that was made famous by Brock Lesnar, Namajunas followed part of her plan in becoming the UFC strawweight champion by finishing Joanna Jedrzejczyk Saturday night. “A lot of gir…
Rose Namajunas has a certain plan she likes to follow. In a similar routine that was made famous by Brock Lesnar, Namajunas followed part of her plan in becoming the UFC strawweight champion by finishing Joanna Jedrzejczyk Saturday night. “A lot of girls were so desperate to take her down. My game plan is always […]
Heading into last night’s (Sat., Nov. 4, 2017) UFC 217 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New Yor, the general overarching consensus was that former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk was going to roll over Rose Namajunas on the main card and tie Ronda Rousey’s record for most consecutive UFC female title defenses […]
Heading into last night’s (Sat., Nov. 4, 2017) UFC 217 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New Yor, the general overarching consensus was that former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk was going to roll over Rose Namajunas on the main card and tie Ronda Rousey’s record for most consecutive UFC female title defenses in the process.
However, “Thug” Rose had quite a different idea, and she proved that her evolution as a fighter was complete when she shocked Jedrzejczyk with a brutal first-round knockout (watch full highlights here) that actually had the former champ tapping to strikes.
The emotions understandably set in for the previously dominant Jedrzejczyk at the UFC 217 post-fight press conference, and some even speculated that she had gone the way of former women’s bantamweight champion Rousey by getting a bit over-heated and physical during pre-fight staredowns, something Rousey did during the lead-up to her first MMA loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015 (where Jedrzejczyk ironically secured the second defense of her title).
Noah K. Murray for USA TODAY Sports
But Jedrzejczyk wasn’t having any of those comparisons, as she noted she wouldn’t take the loss to Namajunas personally (quotes via Bloody Elbow) and let it affect her overall psyche like Rousey, who returned to MMA for one more knockout loss and has been missing ever since, did. Instead, she attributed it to being just another part of the notoriously brutal fight game:
“No no, please don’t compare me to Ronda Rousey and I love her so much and we have very good relationship, but please let’s leave this bullshit away,” said the former champion. “I never take fights personal and I’m not emotional when fighting.”
“This is what happens,” added Jedrzejczyk. “Big congrats to Rose, I’m happy for her, but it was not personal, you know? This is what happened. The things which happened before the fight had nothing to do with this fight. It was a good punch, she cut me off, I really don’t know what happened, but it’s the fight you know? We take these risks.”
As for her next bout, Jedrzejczyk said she would sit down with UFC President Dana White to discuss her next move, but believes that with five prior title defenses, she had done enough to earn an immediate rematch with “Thug” Rose:
“I will sit and talk to Dana and the UFC, I think I’ve been a good athlete and a good champion for the UFC. I think I deserve the rematch. If I get the rematch we will see, I am looking forwards.”
The former champion will look forward, with the goal of tying and/or eclipsing Rousey’s record in the rearview mirror for now. there’s no doubt Jedrzejczyk is still one of the finest strikes in mixed martial arts (MMA), yet Namajunas may have bridged what was viewed as an unfathomable gap in only one round at UFC 217.
That means it’s back to the drawing board for Jedrzejczyk, but just don’t expect her to go into hiding like Rousey.
UFC 217 emanated tonight (Saturday, November 4, 2017) from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The biggest card of the year was topped by a championship tripleheader. The main event saw the return of Georges St. Pierre against middleweight champ Michael Bisping. GSP looked in vintage form, largely outstriking the champion and taking him […]
UFC 217 emanated tonight (Saturday, November 4, 2017) from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The biggest card of the year was topped by a championship tripleheader.
The main event saw the return of Georges St. Pierre against middleweight champ Michael Bisping. GSP looked in vintage form, largely outstriking the champion and taking him down on multiple occasions. He dropped Bisping with a left hand and pounced, jumping on the Brit’s back and choking him unconscious.
In the co-headliner, Cody Garbrandt defended his title for the first time opposite former teammate TJ Dillashaw in a grudge match for the ages. After nearly knocking out the challenger at the very end of round one, Garbrandt found himself on the business end of a head kick followed soon after by a left hook. Follow-up shots separated Garbrandt from his senses entirely, as Dillashaw regained his title.
The first title fight of the night featured inimitable strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk looking to turn back challenger Rose Namajunas. In the most stunning result of the night, “Thug” rose smashed Jedrzejczyk for a first-round knockout, dropping her twice along the way.
Three titles changed hands during the historic event. See how Twitter reacted to these explosive title tilts below:
The only fighters in UFC history to hold championships in 2 different weight classes. Randy Couture BJ Penn Conor McGregor Georges St-Pierre pic.twitter.com/E1Sq5TNjeM
Cody Garbrandt – TJ Dillashaw is the kind of fight you should never forget. Let’s do this thing. Expect WAR and VIOLENCE.#UFC217pic.twitter.com/FoGjx40sRL
Alright the first of three title fights is next. Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Rose Namajunas for the strawweight championship. #UFC217pic.twitter.com/CNe7X8EPR9
In one of three title fights at UFC 217 on pay-per-view (PPV), Joanna Jędrzejczyk attempted to defend her title against Rose Namajunas. Jędrzejczyk came into the fight undefeated in her mixed martial arts (MMA) career; 14-0 over top names such as Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Jessica Penne, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jessica Andrade. “Joanna Champion” only needed […]
In one of three title fights at UFC 217 on pay-per-view (PPV), Joanna J?drzejczyk attempted to defend her title against Rose Namajunas.
J?drzejczyk came into the fight undefeated in her mixed martial arts (MMA) career; 14-0 over top names such as Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Jessica Penne, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jessica Andrade. “Joanna Champion” only needed to defeat Namajunas to have essentially downed all worthy challengers in the division.
Namajunas was riding the momentum of a great victory ver “The Karate Hottie” Michelle Waterson. Prior to that she had a three-fight win streak snapped after dropping a split decision to Karolina Kowalkiewicz. The 25-year-old was looking to play spoiler to the Polish champ’s title reign with a huge upset win.
“Thug” did just that, as she handled J?drzejczyk extremely well before landing a huge shot that knocked the champ down to the mat. Namajunas unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound before J?drzejczyk submitted to the strikes and lost the first fight of her career.
Namajunas is now the third-ever champion in the UFC’s strawweight division and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year. You can check out the full fight video highlights here:
A few minutes after stunning Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win the UFC strawweight title, Rose Namajunas still couldn’t quite believe what she’d done.
“It feels like a movie right now,” Namajunas told color commentator Joe Rogan inside the Octagon after …
A few minutes after stunning Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win the UFC strawweight title, Rose Namajunas still couldn’t quite believe what she’d done.
“It feels like a movie right now,” Namajunas told color commentator Joe Rogan inside the Octagon after the particulars had been announced and UFC President Dana White had slung the title over her shoulder.
She was not alone.
Namajunas’ first-round stoppage of Jedrzejczyk on Saturday at UFC 217 sent shockwaves through the MMA world. Namajunas had come to their bout at Madison Square Garden as the biggest underdog on the pay-per-view card, while Jedrzejczyk was ensconced as one of the fight company’s most dominant champions.
But all it took was three minutes, three seconds to turn all that on its head.
Namajunas surprised Jedrzejczyk in the stand-up game early, dropping her to the canvas with a jab-cross combination roughly two minutes into the opening stanza of their fight. That time, Jedrzejczyk was able to get back to her feet, squirming away from Namajunas’ ground assault and using the cage to stand up.
When Namajunas caught her again less than a minute later, Jedrzejczyk was not so lucky.
It was a charging left hook that put the champ down for good. As Jedrzejczyk crumpled face-first on the mat against the fence, Namajunas poured on strikes from the top, ultimately forcing her opponent to tap out from the punishment.
The outcome was shocking for a couple of reasons.
First, because Jedrzejczyk had quickly established herself as a UFC fan favorite and the class of the organization’s 115-pound division. This was to be her sixth consecutive title defense, which would have moved her into a tie with Ronda Rousey for the most successful defenses of all time for a women’s champion.
She had jetted through a series of previous challengers that included the best contenders the strawweight division could offer. She defeated a smattering of strikers and grapplers while demonstrating a quirky, off-beat personal style and a singular viciousness that set her wholly apart in the world of women’s MMA.
Secondly, if Namajunas was thought to have any chance at all against Jedrzejczyk, it wasn’t supposed to be in the striking department.
Since coming to the UFC in 2014, Jedrzejczyk’s bread and butter had been her technical and deadly accurate kickboxing game. By contrast, Namajunas’ skills—while perhaps better rounded—were not thought to be as sharp in that area.
Most expected Namajunas to try to ground Jedrzejczyk—to put her on the mat and attempt outgrapple her en route to a submission.
Instead, she beat the champion at her own game.
Jedrzejczyk had been brimming with confidence leading up to the fight. She taunted Namajunas throughout their pre-fight media obligations, even pressing her fist lightly against Namajunas’ face during the weigh-in.
When it was over, Namajunas indicated she hoped to strike a different tone with her own title reign.
“In many ways, Joanna showed me how to be a champion but also showed me how not to behave as a champion,” she said in an official UFC release. “I hope tonight changed some of her opinions about me.”
This was Namajunas’ second time fighting for the UFC title.
Her first chance came in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20, when she lost to Carla Esparza via third-round submission. At the time, Namajunas was just 22 years old and making her official Octagon debut after just shy of two years as a professional fighter.
Three months later, Jedrzejczyk defeated Esparza to become champion. Meanwhile, Namajunas went 4-1 during her next five fights, reclaiming No. 1 contender status with a second-round submission of Michelle Waterson in April.
During her second crack at UFC gold, Namajunas was not to be denied, though it didn’t look that way leading up to the fight.
She hadn’t responded to much of Jedrzejczyk’s trash talk at the media events. On fight night, Namajunas looked nervous during her walk to the cage, and her hand visibly shook as UFC PA announcer Bruce Buffer made her official introduction.
As the two met in the center of the cage for their final referee instructions, Jedrzejczyk crept right up in Namajunas’ face. When they separated, Namajunas appeared to shove her away.
The nervousness seemed to evaporate as soon as the fight started, with Namajunas landing a good low kick and a counter left hand in the early going. Jedrzejczyk also let loose with some of her own trademark ferocious combinations, but Namajunas was not flustered.
She continued to press forward and bring the action to the champion until finally forcing the stoppage.
Where the two fighters go from here is anyone’s best guess.
Jedrzejczyk had been so good and popular as champion that an immediate rematch could be in the offing. She has also talked about moving up to women’s flyweight when that division becomes a full-time addition to the UFC’s roster on Dec. 1.
With Namajunas as champion, strawweight’s top contenders—who had been picked off one by one during Jedrzejczyk’s reign—will all enjoy new life. Jessica Andrade’s victory over Claudia Gadelha in September solidified her status as No. 1 contender.
As the only woman to beat Namajunas since her loss to Esparza in December 2014, Karolina Kowalkiewicz could also make a good case. She took out Namajunas via split decision at UFC 201, and after back-to-back losses to Jedrzejczyk and Gadleha, she bounced back with a victory over Jodie Esquibel on Oct. 21.
Smart money may be on a rematch, however, as Namajunas and Jedrzejczyk still comprise the UFC’s best-known and best-liked 115-pound female fighters.
(@brad_mmauk) 
This is my face right now. 
A few minutes after stunning