Gadelha (left) and Jedrzejczyk (right) should have a rematch in 2016. Photo: Produção Super Lutas (Josh Hedges/UFC)
The rivalry between the Brazilian Claudia Gadelha and the UFC women's strawweight champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, will reach new levels soon. According to information found on the “Combate” channel website, the fighters will be coaches on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter and will lead the 23rd season of the program.
See too
The Brazilian and the Polish are great rivals in the up to 52 kg category. They already faced each other in the octagon in December 2014, with a narrow victory for Jedrzejczyk, who then fought for the title with Carla esparza and became champion. Since then, both have frequently provoked each other on social media, which indicates that the season of the program (which will be recorded in January) will be full of controversies.
The news also represents a series of milestones for the UFC: it will be the first time that strawweight athletes will lead the reality show, and it is only the second time that women have acted as coaches – the other time was TUF 18, which featured the weights cocks Ronda Rousey e Miesha Tate.
Furthermore, Claudinha will be only the third representative from Brazil to lead a foreign version of the program. Rodrigo Minotauro led the eighth edition alongside Frank mir, while junior gypsy coached the 13th season with Brock Lesnar.
Jedrejczyk has been UFC champion since March last year, and since then, she has already defended her title twice, against Jessica penne and Valérie Létourneau. Cláudia has only had one fight since she lost to the Pole, defeating Jessica Aguilar at UFC 190 – enough to guarantee her as the next challenger for the belt.
Comments