Joanna Jedrzejczyk is trying to reclaim her strawweight crown when she battles the present champion Weili Zhang within the co-main occasion of UFC 248 this Saturday.

Jedrzejczyk held the title from March 2015 to November 2017 after which misplaced it to Rose Namajunas. Since then, she had one other likelihood on the belt and fought for the vacant flyweight belt however got here up brief.

Now, in opposition to Zhang, the Pole is assured the belt will return to the place it belongs, and that’s round her waist.

“It’s a dream come true. Will probably be my 14th combat within the UFC and 10th time combating for a belt,” Jedrzejczyk mentioned to BJPENN.com. “I’m very pleased that the UFC has this belief and religion in me that I can do it and can.”

Getting into this combat, Jedrzejczyk is a slight underdog as many suppose Zhang’s energy would be the difference-maker. The Chinese language champion additionally solely has 4 UFC fights, however the Pole factors to the truth that she gained the belt in simply her second Octagon look and plans to point out the distinction on Saturday.

“I turned the UFC strawweight champion after two UFC fights, what about this? Individuals didn’t know a lot about me both, so it doesn’t change something,” she defined. “I’ve to be prepared for something and all the things. I’m going through the perfect strawweight and she or he’s my subsequent huge problem. She’s the baddest girls however I plan on taking again what belongs to me within the strawweight belt. I ran this division for 2 years and eight months. This can be an ideal night time for me.”

On this combat, Jedrzejczyk believes she has a transparent cardio benefit as Zhang has by no means gone 5 rounds earlier than. She additionally believes she’s going to frustrate the champion along with her fixed strain and quantity of punches.

But, the previous champion is aware of she needs to be apprehensive about Zhang’s ending capacity.

“She has by no means confronted somebody like me, on the very high. I went by so many five-round battles, wars. I get higher with each bout and I do know she’s going to attempt to come ahead,” she mentioned. “However, I have to be good on this combat to maintain the tempo and keep calm and make her stop bout to bout. Make her be drained in there.

“However, she can knock out individuals out and the factor is, she’s searching for a submission I feel. She’s submitted individuals and she or he’s harmful at all the things,” Jedrzejczyk continued. “I’m going to be ready for all the things.”

If Joanna Jedrzejczyk does certainly beat Weili Zhang at UFC 248 and reclaim her title, she says the win is greater than her legacy.

“This victory is greater than my entire legacy. This win means all the things on March 7. I don’t should show something to anyone even to myself,” she mentioned. “I understand how I need to cement my legacy on March 7 once more and changing into a two-time UFC strawweight champion, for me and my household and mates, it’s all the things. My legacy is so huge, and I’m doing this for myself now.”

Ultimately, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has already mentioned she would really like her first title protection to be in opposition to Rose Namajunas. After that, she isn’t against going again up in weight to flyweight.

“It’s an possibility. I prefer to problem myself however proper now I’m targeted on successful the belt and defending the belt. Who is aware of what can be subsequent,” she concluded.

Do you suppose Joanna Jedrzejczyk will beat Weili Zhang at UFC 248?

This text first appeared on BJPENN.com on 3/2/2020.





