Heading into her fourth consecutive title defense next weekend at UFC 205, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is starting to think about her legacy and wants to be the remembered as the best.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz for the UFC strawweight championship serves as part of the triple-header at UFC 205 next Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
During a media conference call yesterday, Jedrzejczyk said the fight with Kowalkiewicz will help her get one step closer to cementing her position as the best female fighter in the world.
“I’m feeling great, so I’m ready to go,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I know that I’m not the prettiest one, I’m not having big boobies or I’m not American, but I want people to remember me as the best female fighter, undefeated in MMA, and the UFC champion of the world.
Currently 12-0, Jedrzejczyk still has a slate of fighters to fight in the UFC’s 115lb division before it can be considered totally cleared out but she is determined to remain undefeated and put on the types of performances people will be talking about decades from now.
“I want to be a legend,” said Jedrzejczyk. “I want people to talk about me in five, 10 years, 20 years, that I was one of the best female MMA fighters, that I was one of the best UFC champions in the world back in the day. This is what I want. I just want to retire as an undefeated champion. This is my goal. This is my dream, and I want to make this dream become (real) life.”
Earlier this year Jedrzejczyk left her home of Poland, moved to Florida and now trains out of American Top Team. Proud of where she comes from, she’s relishing the prospect of putting on a show against her fellow countrywomen in Kowalkiewicz
“It’s going to be a really beautiful morning for Polish fans,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Because in Poland it’s going to be very early, Nov. 13, when we are going to fight in New York. So it’s a big deal. I love my country. Even though I moved to Florida, I’m still Polish. I love my city and I’m doing this for them, so I’m representing my country, even though I must face Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
“She proved that she can join the UFC. She had three fights, she won against Rose (Namajunas), who was supposed to be my next challenger, but I’m happy for Karolina, for all of us, for Polish MMA. This is going to be a historical moment for female MMA in Poland, and for MMA in Poland.”
