Esparza, Jedrzejczyk respond to Fedor’s criticism of WMMA

In a recent interview with WHOA TV, the legendary Fedor Emelianenko expressed views about women’s MMA that could charitably be described as traditional.

“MMA is for men; it’s a man sport, said Emelianenko through an interpreter. A woman must be a domestic goddess, raise her children and be feminine. There a lot of different sports which help her in that. But MMA is not one of them.”

UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza and #1 challenger Joanna Jedrzejczyk took the high road in response.

“I like him so much and he’s a living legend,” said Jedrzejczyk at the UFC 185 open workouts, as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMAFighting.com. “But I think we can do a pretty good job, you know? I think it’s not right. We can fight good, we can bring the audience and we can make the show better. That’s all.”

Esparza expressed similar sentiments.

“Facts speak for themselves,” said Esparza. “He’s one of the greats. I have nothing against him. Maybe we differ a little bit in opinion. You know, I think Ronda and the crowd she brought in to LA, the proof is in the pudding. It shows right there.

“I think female MMA is basically the biggest female sport out there right now. We’re being put on the same stage as the guys, and obviously Ronda is headlining even above all the guys. It just goes to show, we’re on top right now.”

“Some people are always going to feel the way they feel. But I think day-by-day, fight-by-fight, I’m hearing those whispers a lot less than I used to.”

“I think if we go out there and keep showing that we have skills, that we have heart — I feel like a lot of times girls bring it even more than the guys just with their tenacity and they’re just non-stop. That’s why it is where it is right now, because they keep proving themselves.

“We’re legit and we’re here to stay. Nothing is going to stop this momentum that’s been going with the women.”

Carla Esparza fights Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co main event at UFC 185 on Saturday.