Report: Jedrzejczyk vs. Kowalkiewicz at UFC 205
Boxing has long relied on a massive name at the top of a card, with relatively little attention paid to…
Boxing has long relied on a massive name at the top of a card, with relatively little attention paid to the rest. Ringside seats are often unfilled until the main event approached.
By contrast, the UFC prides itself on the depth of cards. When the bonuses are handed out for best fight, often one or more are on the UFC Fight Pass prelims.
Since it was acquired by ZUFFA in 2001 for $2,000,000, the UFC has expended great resource seeking government regulation. New York was the last state or province in North America to regulate mixed martial arts, and after nine years and $2,000,000, it finally happened, over bizarre opposition.
On November 12 at UFC 205, the league holds its first show in New York since UFC 7 in 1995. The plan is for a spectacular event. However, instead of a headliner like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, native son Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, or Brock Lesnar, the UFC has gone with depth. The latest signing is another title fight.
UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk recently posted a message on her social network that she had “just signed the agreement for my next fight! Official info soon.”
Now FloCombat reports that the opponent is fellow Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and the event is UFC 205. The fight had been anticipated for some time since UFC president Dana White said “it’s the one that makes sense.”
The 12-0 Jedrzejczyk vs. the 10-0 Kowalkiewicz would be the first ever all-European title fight in the UFC, and the biggest fight in European MMA history.
Jedrzejczyk won her title vs. Carla Esparza at UFC 185 on March 14, 2015 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. She has since defended it successfully against Jessica Penne, Valerie Letourneau, and most recently Claudia Gadelha.
Kowalkiewicz made her UFC debut vs. Randa Markos on the main card of UFC on Fox 17 on December 19, 2015, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. She has since defeated Heather Jo Clark and Rose Namajunas.
The title fight would be a rematch. Jedrzejczyk and Kowalkiewicz fought as amateurs at Amatorska Liga (Amateur League) MMA 18 on March 4, 2012, with Jedrzejczyk winning via armbar.
UFC 205
Main Card
•Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson (confirmed)
•Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
•Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero
•Donald Cerrone vs. Kelvin Gastelum (confirmed)
•Rashad Evans vs. Tim Kennedy (confirmed)
Prelim Card
•Frankie Edgar vs. Jeremy Stephens (confirmed)
•Jim Miller vs. Thiago Alves (confirmed)
•Tim Boetsch vs. Rafael Natal (confirmed)
•Liz Carmouche vs. Katlyn Chookagian (confirmed)