Jedrzejczyk: Andrade and I used to do some crazy things

Women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk recently took part in a media luncheon, ahead of her fight with Jessica Andrade in the co-main event ofUFC 211. The two were never friends, but used to share a manager, Tiago Okamura, and sparred from time to time.

I know Jessica for a while, said Jedrzejczyk, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. We’ve been kind of friends. Friends may be a bit too much — we were colleagues. Is that a good word? We used to train together sometimes, we used to do some crazy things when I was at the fights when she fought or when I fought. We used to have good times, many good times.

The champ was asked what she learned from the sparring sessions.

That I can submit her and I can knock her out, she said. But the fight is different. It was in the past. Jessica is a very dangerous opponent. She drops from 125. She’s very strong in the strawweight division.

Jessica says a few things, but I know she cannot speak English very well, so probably it was Tiago, who used to be my manager and friend. The thing is, I don’t mind. It’s all about the fight. Like I said, we used to train together, spar together a little bit. But it’s all about this fight.

Andrade recently questioned Jedrzejczyk’s punching power.

They always want to talk, said the champ. But I let my fists talk in the Octagon. Jessica didn’t face someone tough like me. I let her taste the power of my fist. That’s the thing.

I know that people are getting a little too crazy. When they have a chance to deal with the big media or big events. I heard a few things from Jessica. I know she’s a different person. I’m calm. I hope we’re gonna have a good relationship before the fight, after the fight. That she’s not gonna get crazy before this fight. Because becoming a challenger, it’s a pretty big deal for everyone. But it’s not easy to become a champion and deal with it. It’s even more difficult than just being a fighter or a challenger.