FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Joanna Jedrzejczyk

FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Joanna Jedrzejczyk

By James Heaney

In the sport of MMA drama makes headlines and whispers and rumours become facts and reports quickly.

The focus of the lead up to UFC Fight Night Tampa was weight cutting. Would Jedrzeyczyk make weight? Will the fight against Waterson happen?

What was easy to forget during the build-up is that Jedrzeyczyk is one of the most decorated fighters of all time in her weight class. Her opponent, Michelle Waterson, was on a three fight win streak, most recently outclassing Karolina Kowalkiewicz. It’s a shame the focus of fight week was on what the scales would say on Friday morning.

The backdrop of the weight cutting issues and the subsequent media attention makes Jedrzeyczyk’s performance against a tough opponent even more impressive. There was a sense of ‘the true Joanna,’ moments that reminded us of the big names she’s beaten over the years. The output was phenomenal and only one judge thought she didn’t win every single round.

There was no suggestion of weight cutting issues as Jedrzeyczyk imposed her striking qualities, mixing a variety of strikes from distance and from the clinch. Everytime Waterson entered for a takedown, she was met with solid clinch defence and received a flurry of strikes for her efforts.

Aside from a scare towards the end of the 3rd Round, Jedrzeyczyk didn’t look in danger. To learn post fight that she’d fought with a potentially broken foot for the final 2-3 rounds is even more impressive.

Something else that shone through during Fight Week was Jedrzeyczyk’s positive attitude and demeanour. Historically Jedrzeyczyk has been cutting of her opponents, culminating in intense, aggressive stare-downs. This week felt different. Granted, Waterson is one of the more likeable opponents in the UFC, so rightly so there was a great deal of respect between the two before, during and after the fight. It felt like a new Joanna Jedrzecyczk, she was comfortable fighting in her home state, wasn’t distracted by apparent weight concerns and produced a performance as good as any she’s had before. Everything was done with a smile.

The strawweight division is exciting and Jedrzeyczyk’s performance this week has opened it up further. She beat Valerie Letourneau in front of a then record UFC crowd at 193 in Melbourne, could she headline a Polish stadium of 60,000+ people against Zhang early next year? If not, Tatiana Suarez also lies in waiting, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Joanna re-crowned the strawweight Queen in 2020.

The performance at UFC Tampa has earned Jedrzejczyk this week’s MMA Fighter of The Week honours.