EXCLUSIVE | Dan Lambert says Joanna Jedrzejczyk hasn’t decided what division to fight in next

Joanna Jedrzejczyk used to be the UFC strawweight champ, and for a long period of time, it didn’t look like anyone could beat her. However, Rose Namajunas eventually came along and beat Jedrzejczyk in back-to-back fights, putting an end to the Polish star’s reign.

Once Jedrzejczyk was no longer the strawweight champion, some fans began to wonder if she might move up to the new UFC women’s flyweight division. At first, she decided to stay at strawweight for her next fight, in which she defeated Tecia Torres by decision. Then, an opportunity came up for Jedrzejczyk to fight for the flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231. But unfortunately for Jedrzejczyk and her fans, Shevchenko won this fight via unanimous decision.

Now, the question is, will Jedrzejczyk stay at flyweight or go back to down to strawweight? Well, according to American Top Team owner Dan Lambert, that’s a decision that still hasn’t been made.

“We haven’t really figured it out. I’m sure people aren’t clamoring for a rematch against Valentina at 125,” Lambert said to BJPENN.com. “She would certainly have to re-establish herself in that division and fight more times at 125 to get a shot at the title than she would at 115. We have to sit down and she will have to make the decision of where she is more comfortable. If she is willing to make the sacrifices and the accommodations to fight at 115, then it is a shorter path to a title shot. Really, it is up to her. I’m not exactly sure in which way she will go.”

Although Jedrzejczyk has yet to decide what is next for her, the UFC 237 strawweight title fight between Jessica Andrade and Rose Namajunas is likely to play a factor in her decision. It is unlikely Jedrzejczyk would get another title shot if Namajunas is still the champion. However, if Andrade happens to beat Namajunas, it sets Jedrzejczyk up for another title shot given that she has already beaten Andrade.

“I think that would play out really well for Joanna if she wants to go back to 115,” Lambert said. “I have seen some interviews where Jessica would like to run that back and get that win back. Joanna had a pretty dominant win over Jessica. She is really the only person to do that at that weight. If that fight plays out like that, it would set up for those two in the future to fight. There are some other contenders in that division who are right there. One of which is Nina Ansaroff. Tatiana Suarez is a beast so I don’t know how that would play out. The quickest path to a title shot would be at 115 pounds.”

For now, Jedrzejczyk is enjoying time away from the Octagon, and her decision may not happen until she sees the outcome of the next strawweight title fight.

What division do you think Joanna Jedrzejczyk should fight in next?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/5/2019.