J. Jedrzejczyk has weight problems UFC Tampa. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @joannajedrzejczyk
Less than four days before UFC Tampa, the Ultimate organization received terrible news. The former strawweight champion (up to 52,7kg), Joanna Jedrzejcyk, may not be able to make the weight limit and threatens the main fight of the UFC Tampa, against Michele Waterson, which takes place this Saturday (12). The board suggested that the North American fight at catchweight, however, the athlete did not accept. Names like Amanda ribas e Mackenzie dern were offered to Michele, but the athlete remained unyielding. The information was released by 'Combate'.
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News like this directly harms the production of the event, as this is a fight involving exactly the protagonists of the card, which already has a gap in terms of established stars within the organization.
There is also the possibility that Waterson could be removed from the event and placed in the UFC 244, which takes place on November 2nd. In this case, Joanna would be kept on the card and Ultimate would have to rush to find, in a hurry, an athlete willing to exchange forces with the former division champion.
The situation comes at a delicate moment in the career of what was once considered one of the most feared women in the world. Jedrzejcyk has recently been in a complicated situation in her career. In her last four engagements, the fighter was defeated on three occasions. In one, she ended up losing her position as champion, when she was beaten by Rose namajunas, in 2017; another, in the rematch against the North American and the third, when facing Valentina Shevchenko in an attempt to win the flyweight title (up to 56,7kg.).
The fight against Michele presented a possibility for the athlete to once again dream of a new chance to regain her title, in case of victory. Currently, Joanna, who was once the division's absolute number one, has to settle for fifth place in the division's rankings, behind names like Nina ansaroff, Tatiana Suarez placeholder image, Rose herself, who is no longer champion, and the Brazilian Jessica Andrade.
Michele, in turn, is in a great phase in her career. The 33-year-old American has won three consecutive matches in the category and has not lost since 2017. Accepting a fight at catchweight against Joanna could be a mistake, as her opponent would not have gone through the same difficulties in weight cutting.
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