Joanna Jedrzejczyk after UFC 217 loss: ‘Please don’t compare me to Ronda Rousey’

A thrilling night of upsets saw three UFC champions lose their titles. First among them was the previously undefeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who dropped her…

By: Tim Bissell | 6 years ago
Joanna Jedrzejczyk after UFC 217 loss: ‘Please don’t compare me to Ronda Rousey’
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

A thrilling night of upsets saw three UFC champions lose their titles. First among them was the previously undefeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who dropped her UFC women’s strawweight belt to Rose Namajunas after a KO that came in the very first round.

The build-up to the fight was contentious, with Jedrzejczyk seemingly doing all she could to rattle Namajunas. At the ceremonial weigh-ins Jedrzejczyk went as far as to touch her fist on her opponent’s lips, in a scene reminiscent of Ronda Rousey flailing at Holly Holm on the eve of UFC 193; an event that would see Rousey lose her own UFC title and undefeated record.

At the UFC 217 press conference Jedrzejczyk was asked whether emotions – as demonstrated at the weigh-in – were one of the reasons behind her stunning loss. The former champion shut down the implication immediately.

“No no, please don’t compare me to Ronda Rousey and I love her so much and we have very good relationship, but please let’s leave this bullshit away,” said the former champion. “I never take fights personal and I’m not emotional when fighting.”

“This is what happens,” added Jedrzejczyk. “Big congrats to Rose, I’m happy for her, but it was not personal, you know? This is what happened. The things which happened before the fight had nothing to do with this fight. It was a good punch, she cut me off, I really don’t know what happened, but it’s the fight you know? We take these risks.”

Jedrzejczyk was then asked whether she believed she deserved a rematch with the new champion Namajunas.

“I will sit and talk to Dana and the UFC, I think I’ve been a good athlete and a good champion for the UFC. I think I deserve the rematch. If I get the rematch we will see, I am looking forwards.”

Share this story

About the author
Tim Bissell
Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Tim is also BE's lead (only) sumo reporter. He blogs about that sport here and on his own substack, Sumo Stomp!

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

More from the author

Bloody Elbow Podcast
Related Stories