

That staredown

Developing at ATT and throwing those Hell-bows

Making changes for herself

The fight will be spectacular

UFC 205 is fast approaching and tension is rising wherever you look.The build-up to the all-Polish strawweight title fight has mostly been full of pleasantries, but for one-half of the showdown at least, it's now time to start upping the ante.Speaking to Przegladsportowy earlier this week, the UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk talked about the tense staredown she shared with her challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz a month ago and confirmed that she did tell her "s**t just got real"."That's what I said," Jedrzejczyk said. "Don't worry. I remember how to speak Polish. I said what I wanted to say. I hope it got through to Karolina."[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BK4QthwjORO/" hide_caption="0"]Jedrzejczyk then revealed the two ran into each other earlier at the hotel in New York and were civil, but the moment the two locked eyes at the press conference it was all business from then on out until the fight."I met Karolina and her coach Lukasz Zaborowski," Jedrzejczyk said. "We said 'hi', shook hands, had a small talk. Then we went eye to an eye during the press conference and after that, I think Karolina wanted to exchange some more words."After the fight, we can have a dinner together, have a beer or wine. Now, it is a time for a rivalry. Mental preparation is as important as the physical one. You mustn't show weaknesses, you have to stick to your rules."Focusing on business has meant settling into her new training camp at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Jedrzejczyk described in who she's been working with and how she's been able to develop since making the move across the pond."I spar with men and women that are very advanced in wrestling," Jedrzejczyk said. "Gezary [Matuda] helps me to grind my BJJ, she has a great power and thanks to her, my technique is getting better. She makes me move forward."Jedrzejczyk then spoke about a video that was shared online showing her throwing some vicious elbows with a padman at ATT."Katel [the padman] is Gezary's husband, he's an excellent coach," Jedrzejczyk said. "In New York, he will be in my corner next to Mike Brown and Kami Barzini [wrestling coach]. Every day I motivate myself to a greater effort. I can see, how my attitude impresses everyone at the gym. They look at me with admiration. You can train anywhere in the world, you can have a better or worse group of coaches.[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLrsgY1Dcgw/?hl=en" hide_caption="0"]"At the end of the day, everything is up to you. We either have a champion's factor in us, that helps us motivate ourselves to the maximal effort, or we don't. I know I have that. Sometimes, I feel worse than usual, but I know I'm not going to give up in moments, when others would surrender."Having made such a massive change moving from Poland to America to train full time, Jedrzejczyk explained in a little more detail why she felt she needed to do it."It didn't change that much, although training here is specifically set up for me," Jedrzejczyk said. "In Olsztyn I did a lot of group classes, sometimes I needed someone to train with and the person didn't even arrive at the gym. These things don't happen at ATT, everything is perfectly organized."I feel that my success is more appreciated here, though I will never say a bad thing about what I had in Poland.While many have the champion as a big favorite heading into the bout on November 12. Jedrzejczyk is expecting her biggest challenge yet when she shares the Octagon with her fellow Pole. The champion is expecting a tough fight, but also promised that she will finish it in a way that no one wants to be missing."I changed some details, refreshed some things and new tricks just happen naturally," Jedrzejczyk said. "I'm developing and I trust you will see that on November 12."Karolina is going to be prepared better than ever. I will have to deal with it. It is a huge test for me, and my coaches. I believe the result is going to be spectacular, very spectacular."(translation credit: Adrian Pilarczyk)