Joanna Jedrzejczyk thinking big for her next UFC fight

After 15 months away, Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants to return to the octagon against Rose Namajunas, the current champ, or top contender Zhang Weili – and nobody else.

“I’m interested in only fighting one of them,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Junkie.

Jedrzejczyk began her career by winning her first 14 fights but, in her most recent six, was two up and four down, punctuated by a brutal loss to Weili.

Two of those four losses were in title bouts against Namajunas.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk: “I put on a hell of a war”

Jedrzejczyk is still the UFC’s No. 2 ranked contender in the women’s strawweight division, with Weili just in front of her.

“I put on a hell of a war, and I’m proud of myself,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Junkie. “Yeah, man, I lost. We always want to win, but it’s not easy. I’m proud of myself. Even though it was close, could go either way, I lost. I can’t do anything about (that) and just work even harder and win my next fight.”

Namajunas stopped Weili on April 24 at UFC 261, and current No. 3 contender Carla Esparza delivered a technical knockout in May over No. 4 contender Yan Xiaonan.

A third shot at Rose Namajunas

There are no new fights scheduled among the contenders, so Jedrzejczyk could possibly be given a third shot at Namajunas.

“I don’t know what’s next. I would like to fight maybe in September, but I’m enjoying my life,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I like to do other stuff outside the gym and octagon. Let’s see what’s gonna happen next. Let’s see who Rose is willing to fight next, because I’m only interested in big fights. I know that people are saying that I lost and I should take some lower-ranking girls, but I’m not really interested after putting on ‘Fight of the Year’ with Zhang Weili.

“It’s a big business, and I respect that. I just take my spot and wait. I can’t get pushed to do things I don’t want to do. My legacy is so big. … I deserve what’s best – what’s best for me.”

–Field Level Media

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