Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes she will be UFC strawweight champion again ‘sooner or later’

CALGARY, Alberta — Ever since the UFC announced that it would be forming a 125-pound division, the writing appeared to be on the wall that Joanna Jedrzejczyk would move up to that weight class.

After all, the former strawweight champion has lost twice to current titleholder Rose Namajunasand she has had difficulty making the cut down to 115 pounds in the past. It would seem reasonable to set her sights on conquering a new division.

However, up next for Jedrzejczyk is her 11th UFC strawweight appearance, the most by any fighter in the promotion. She meets top-ranked contender Tecia Torres on the main card of UFC on FOX 30 on Saturday here at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Asked why she’s putting off talk of a flyweight move, Jedrzejczyk insisted that she has unfinished business in the division that she ruled for over two years.

“Because I go for this belt after this fight,” Jedrzejczyk said at a scrum following Wednesday’s open workouts here at The Palace Theatre. “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.”

While Namajunas is taking time off to deal with injuries after winning a five-round decision in the rematch with Jedrzejczyk this past April, the former champion is already back in action and visualizing once again wearing UFC gold.

“I’m back so fast because it’s not only about having dreams and goals,” Jedrzejczyk said. “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.”

Working with nutritionist George Lockhart, as she has been since preparing for the second fight with Namajunas, Jedrzejczyk is confident about her weight cut. She also expressed an appreciation for the people of Calgary, explaining that the positive atmosphere was in line with her own perception of her career.

“I’m enjoying my life as a fighter, but more as a human and this is what matters,” said Jedrzejczyk. “I couldn’t care what people are saying or not saying because I have my own life. I know who I am, I know who is Joanna Jedrzecjzyk. And I know who I want to be.”

Jedrzejczyk was asked for clarification on who she wanted to be and her response was, “I am who I am.”

“You see Joanna, so you don’t know anything about Joanna, so that’s the point,” she continued. “People know me only from the Octagon, from the gym. I’m a different person outside and I am who I want to be. 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.”