Joanna Jedrzejczyk has made it clear that she is not willing to make the jump to flyweight just yet as her work remains unfinished at 115lbs.
After being linked to an eventual move to the 125lb division, many have speculated that a loss against Torres tonight could bring the former strawweight champion’s time as a 115lb-r to an end.
For Jedrzejczyk, who will take part in her first three-rounder within the UFC tonight, the move to flyweight is still most certainly on the cards but until she gets another crack at the belt, she just doesn’t seem interested in making it happen.
Speaking to the media ahead of UFC Calgary, Joanna said the following.
“Because I go for this belt after this fight. That’s the point, that’s why I’m here. Otherwise, I could move up. But I will mark my position on Saturday in the fight with Tecia Torres and I will get this title shot.”
After losing out to Rose Namajunas back in April, Jedrzejczyk needed just three months to get herself back into the octagon – something she believes to be a testament to her unshakeable belief in her abilities.
“I’m back so fast because it’s not only about having dreams and goals. I feel and I know that I won my last fight.
“I should talk to you guys probably in the next two or three months with the belt on my shoulder, but the point is people they have a dream, they set their goals, they are not willing to put in work. I’m doing this. I will make these things happen very soon.
“Sooner or later, I will be the strawweight champion again and after that we will see if I will move up in weight.
“I am who I am.”
“You see Joanna, so you don’t know anything about Joanna, so that’s the point. People know me only from the Octagon, from the gym. I’m a different person outside and I am who I want to be.
When she was asked who it was exactly what she wanted to be, she doubled down on her desire not to define her legacy on her shortcomings against Rose Namajunas.
“Good person, a great athlete, and people cannot define my fighting career on my last two fights because I’ve been in this business for 15 years.
“100 Muay Thai, boxing, and kickboxing fights. Six times world Muay Thai champion, five times European Muay Thai champion, very dominant UFC champion for three years. I know my legacy. They can say whatever they want to, but I’m huge.”
Confident as ever from the Polish former-champion but even with that being said, she’ll no doubt be aware that Tecia Torres will ask several interesting questions of her when the time comes to get things going inside the octagon.
Cillian Cunningham, Pundit Arena
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