Joanna Jedrzejczyk opens up on “quite difficult” move to train at ATT

UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk recently made the move to American Top Team in Florida, where she is now training full time. While Jedrzejczyk is certainly pleased with the move, she admits that there was an adjustment period where the transition was a bit difficult.

Jedrzejczyk is fresh off a unanimous decision win at the TUF 23 Finale back in July, where she picked up an impressive decision win over longstanding rival Claudia Gadelha in a highly anticipated rematch.

Ahead of her highly anticipated scrap with Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 205 in New York on November 5th, Jedrzejczyk is looking to take her career to a new level as she joins numerous high-profile coaches and fighters at ATT.

She spoke with PrzegladSportowy.pl to discuss the move to ATT:

“This may sound selfish, but I had to think of myself,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I care about eating well, getting enough sleeping, and being ready to workout, because this will all matter on the day of the fight. I believe now I’ve found the right place, and I have arranged it all myself. When preparing for a fight, I must be selfish. I have to know that I will be able to cope physically and mentally.

“I feel like I’m on a mission now. I miss my loved ones from Olsztyn in Poland, but I have to do what’s best for me to make sure I win.”

Although one of the best female fighters on the planet, Jedrzejczyk is training alongside women who are looking to dethrone her as the women’s strawweight champion, which made for an interesting welcome:

“To be honest first days were… quite difficult,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Girls weren’t amazed that I’m here. Valerie, Amanda Nunes, Nina Ansaroff, and Tecia Torres seemed to be saying to themselves ‘What is Jedrzejczyk doing here?’ Valerie I beat, Tecia dropped in rankings, Nina hasn’t fought for a long time… What are we even talking about? What kind of threat am I to them? What kind of threat are they to me?

“After a few days, one of them said ‘Joanna is a beast.’ I think they finally saw what it takes to get on top, to get that belt, and defend it. Jessica Aguilar stuck up for me and said ‘Girls, why are you gossiping about Joanna? Let’s train normally and just learn from the best in the world.’ They thought that I came there only for a while. And I think that I found a place to train at for the rest of my career.”