During the lead-up to UFC 217, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was at her most vicious. Some argued, maybe too vicious. She came under fire because some felt she was being too arrogant in the face of her next title defense, even comparing her to another former dominant champion who received an unexpected upset. Regardless, Jedrzejczyk appeared before the media recently and address her criticisms face on. You think she was too cocky? Just wait until she comes back, she warned.
“I’m moving forward and I’m stronger. I see the champion [Rose Namajunas] she’s just polishing my belt. That’s the thing. Maybe some other people think she’s not doing this, but she is. But don’t you worry, it’s on vacation, I’m on vacation. The people who call me a beast, now I’m going to be beast beast. Believe me. I know my heart. That’s why I’m talking like this. I know how hard I work. That’s it. You can ask Jorge [Masvidal] because we train together every day. There is no Thanksgiving when I am doing work.”
“My life is better than before. Some people, they can’t believe I’m smiling, I’m in good mood, and I’m looking forward. They think I should sleep and cry and do nothing. I do more. I’ve had more offers to work with big companies – the biggest companies everywhere than I had before. People who are saying I was cocky or arrogant, this is why I lost. I just want to tell you that I will be more cocky. I will be more arrogant. And I will be more loud. Because I know my value. I’m bigger than that night at UFC 217. Mistakes happen to everyone. And don’t you worry. I’m clever, I don’t want a rematch. What if [Namajunas] fights in February? What if she fights in March? What if she, for example, she will lose the belt? I will get the rematch. But like I said, I want my baby back. So I want to fight for the title. And this is what’s going to happen.” – Joanna Jedrzejczyk during the UFC Shanghai Q&A via MMA Junkie.
Whether it is an immediate rematch or now, Joanna Jedrzejczyk will settle for nothing less than the belt once they are both done with their ‘vacations’. No matter how you feel about Jedrzejczyk’s persona or actions, one thing that is of no debate is her track record and how exciting it is whenever she fights. Whenever she comes back, cocky or not, it will be a must-watch moment just like it is every single time she steps into the cage.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 11/24/2017
