This weekend, Joanna Jedrzejczyk will take on Weili Zhang in a featured bout at UFC 275. It’s a rematch of the 2020 Fight of the Year, and arguably the greatest female MMA bout of all time. As such, the bout is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the summer, and UFC President Dana White added even more intrigue to the fight by announcing this week that the winner would go on to face newly crowned champion Carla Esparza for the strawweight title. But Jedrzejczyk already knew that.
“I’m not surprised. I knew that,” Jedrzejczyk said at the UFC 275 Media Day. “I would not sign an agreement for this fight if I didn’t know that I was going to be next after winning. So yeah, I knew that. I’m not surprised. It’s good. I feel like we both deserve [it].”
Esparza took the strawweight title from Rose Namajunas at UFC 274 in one of the most maligned fights in UFC history. The fight was so bad that Dana White said he wouldn’t grant Namajunas an immediate rematch, leaving the door open for the winner of Jedrzejczyk and Zhang to step into a title shot. Still, some fans believed Marina Rodriguez might be next in line for Esparza as she is currently on a four fight winning streak and her only professional loss came in a contentious split decision to Esparza back in 2020. But Jedrzejczyk says there are contenders and then there are contenders.
“Big fights only. She’s one of the best,” Jedrzejczyk said of Zhang. “She made it to the league, she was the champ, we made it. So she’s the best. Even after her two losses, she proved that she’s one of the best, one of the toughest in this division. I know there’s lots of talk about other girls, who should get the title shot, but there are girls and then we show up. Me, Weili, Rose, we put on a hell of a fight every time, you know. And this is what this business is about. It’s not about boring fights, it’s not about just fights, it’s about being the best every single time you step in there. That’s the thing.”
Jedrzejczyk has her own history with Esparza, stopping her at UFC 185 to win the strawweight title. Jedrzejczyk went on to defend the title five times before losing it to Namajunas at UFC 217. Over the past few years, Jedrzejczyk has suffered a number of setbacks in her career, and the former champion has not fought since her battle with Zhang at UFC 248, but fully healthy and with a new contract with the UFC, Jedrzejczyk hopes she can get her revenge on Zhang and then go on to reclaim the strawweight title later this year.
“I would love to be back as soon as possible,” Jedrzejczyk said. “It depends how my body is going to feel after the fight, but Madison Square Garden or Fight Island sounds good to me.”
UFC 275 takes place this Saturday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Road to UFC 3 & 4 weigh-ins and faceoffs.
Embedded 3.
Israel Adesanya breaks down UFC 275.
LISTEN UP
No Bets Barred. Previewing the best bets at UFC 275, including going all-in on Valentina Shevchenko.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Fight ready.
//\ pic.twitter.com/g7DD89zqro
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) June 9, 2022
Call out.
Stop picking on guys who don’t want to fight you .. only two fighters in the top 5 that haven’t fought Kamaru winner gets next . @danawhite @seanshelby https://t.co/tTli8m8O6B pic.twitter.com/cUZmDaV9Ri
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 8, 2022
Tony stays committed to calling out Khabib.
Hey Khabieber @TeamKhabib You Done W/ Your World Tour Yet? Bout’ Time Ya Man Up And Face A Real Coaches Challenge How Bout A Pie Eating Contest Fatty *nom nom nom nom* # TUF Times Time to Make Some Real Noise Buddy Foo Foo 29 – 1 I Win- Thee Champ -CSO- pic.twitter.com/Vk24o8tncb
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) June 8, 2022
Respect.
Nothing but respect to @Dynamitedan808 it was an honor to share the octagon with you. You are the great example of hard work and heart. I won’t forget what you said to me after the fight ✊
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) June 9, 2022
Disrespect.
@Dynamitedan808 you suck bro. Couldn’t even beat the rat… From the UFC and myself, we would like to thank you for your career and everything you have done for the company but it’s time to let you go. Let’s see what excuse you’ll make now so I can’t be ther first to finish you.
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 8, 2022
Wild man.
I can fight this guy july 16 then still fight London card week after
I will sign contract right now, just let me know please @ufc @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 https://t.co/1m1fQ2CIYI— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) June 9, 2022
Fandom.
What a fucking honour this was to see this today @Jacktomillard pic.twitter.com/xi2ot3nGMt
— D (@darrentill2) June 8, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Brian Kelleher (24-13) vs. Mario Bautista (9-2); UFC Vegas 57, June 25.
Ignacio Bahamondes (13-4) vs. Ludovit Klein (18-4); UFC 277, July 30.
Alexa Grasso (14-3) vs. Viviane Araujo (11-3); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 13.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading! See y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
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