Joanna Jedrzejczyk Unable To Make Weight For UFC Tampa Main Event
This weekend’s UFC Tampa card was supposed to be headlined by Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Michelle Waterson. However, it appears that bout is in jeopardy.
Jedrzejczyk was looking to get back on track, having gone 1-3 since losing her title in 2017. Her most recent fight was a Flyweight title bid, where she lost to Valentina Shevchenko. Subsequently, this fight with Waterson would be her first in 2019.
However, it seems that a return to Flyweight may be in her future, as it was announced that Jedrzejczyk would be unable to make the strawweight limit. According to reports, the former 115lb champion is not going to be able to make that mark by Friday. Subsequently, Waterson was offered a 120lb catchweight, which she refused.
Saturday's UFC main event — Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson — is in jeopardy. According to multiple sources, Joanna Jedrzejczyk informed the UFC over a week ago that she would not be able to make the strawweight limit of 116 pounds. More: https://t.co/lVjthsPO3G
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 9, 2019
The UFC is now in a bit of a scramble to figure out what to do for their main event. Currently they have offered Waterson the ability to fight Jessica Andrade in November. Additionally, they are looking for a fighter to take a catchweight bout with Jedrzejczyk. At the forefront of these possibilities is Angela Hill.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has had many notable struggles, trying to make the stawweight limit. These struggles were present, even as she was champion. As a result, this could be enough for the decision to be made that she moves permanently up in weight.
If the main event between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Angela Hill is unable to be put together, there is still a decent co-main event. Featherweight veteran Cub Swanson is taking on highly-touted prospect Kron Gracie, which could easily be bumped up. Either way, the UFC Tampa card is primed for a shake up.
