Joanna Jedrzejczyk Looking Out Another Title Opportunity Against Rose Namajunas
Former women’s Strawweight champion and all-time great Joanna Jedrzejczyk squared off against top contender Tecia Torres last night (Sat., July 28, 2018) inside Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She entered into this fight with two-fight skid and twice lost to current champion Rose Namajunas. Joanna Jedrzejczyk puts on a tremendous action and scores a promising hard-fought decision win.
Following her two loses against Namajunas, Joanna made it clear she wants another title shot against ‘Thug Rose.’ Back in May reigning UFC 115-pound champion said she ’ll grant Jedrzejczyk another title shot if ex-champion publicly admits she’s the best.
It’s no surprise; Joanna isn’t ready to call her best yet.
“I will not do this,” Jedrzejczyk told reporters, including MMAjunkie, at the UFC on FOX 30 post-event news conference. “Never ever. She wants my honor? She must earn that. If she’s going to run, they’re going to make an interim belt. She was saying that she’s afraid Conor McGregor will show up again and make a mess like he did before Brooklyn. He’s not going to do this. Don’t be afraid, Rose. Come on. Just fight. Just face the best.”
Jedrzejczyk fought in her first non-title bout since December 2014 when she faced Tecia Torres. There are zero instances in the past where one fighter loses twice to the same opponent and promotion booked them for third contest. Ex-champion says she is exceptional due to her resume.
“Rose saying that she will give me the third fight after I will say that she is the best? No way,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Maybe you beat me, and you’re the champion, and you won, but your legacy is not that big. You should bow down because I am the queen. I give her respect.”
Rose Namajunas may be out of action for a while due to a neck injury, and there was no word by Namajunas or anyone from her camp as to when the champion may return to action.
Joanna also questions the extent of Namajunas injury and why she has no current plans for a title defense, and if that’s the case, she proposed the possibility of an interim title.
“What I’m hearing is that she’s not really injured,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Maybe she is. I don’t know. Maybe she is injured, so I am sorry. I give her credit. She’s the champ. … If she’s injured, OK. But if she’s just playing, and she just wants holiday, let UFC know that. ‘I want a holiday, I want a break.’ Let UFC make an interim belt, and let’s fight for the belt.”
In her first fight against Namajunas, Joanna got knocked out which she blamed her nutrition team for a very bad weight cut; then in a rematch, she lost via close decision, which ex-champion believes she won it. No matter how the situation plays out, Joanna will regain her title back.
“I will chase you,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I will chase the belt. I will chase you until the next fight. … I will become a champion again.”
Do you think after her recent win, Joanna should get a trilogy fight with Namajunas?
