Joanna (left) and Penne (right): the weather got hot at the O2 Arena, in Berlin. Photo: Reproduction
The stares of Ultimate strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk are usually a separate chapter in the Polish's presentations, who has the habit of “hunting” her rivals when she comes face to face with them. And those who expected a tense atmosphere this Friday (19), at the official UFC Berlin weigh-in, were not disappointed and saw things heat up between Jedrejczyk and the challenger Jessica penne.
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First to take the stage, Penne made weight without difficulty, having weighed in at 51,7 kg – around 400g less than what is allowed for title fights in the division. When it was Jedrzejczyk's turn to take the stage, however, the calm ended and the provocations began, with several insults directed at her rival as she prepared to step onto the scale.
After Joanna also made weight, weighing 52 kg, expectations for the confrontation between the two increased and the Polish woman adopted her standard behavior, cornering her rival. Then, the champion said that she had a gift for the challenger and handed a necklace to her opponent, who threw it off the stage with a slap.
In order to respond appropriately, Penne also tried to give Joanna a “gift” and gave her a ring, which was also promptly rejected, and guaranteed that she would win the duel. “No matter what happens, I am prepared for anything, and I will leave with my arm raised,” she said.
Jedrzejczyk, in turn, was more economical with her words, but also heightened her nerves for her first title defense. “It’s going to be a war… It’s going to be a war!”, assured the Polish woman, in an interview with announcer Andy Friedlander.
Brazilians lose weight with ease
With a different look, with his hair full of Rastafari-style braids, the Brazilian Alan Nuguette performed with the usual joy on the O2 Arena stage. After weighing 70,3 kg, the athlete from X-Gym He still made waves and, contrary to the logic that athletes are weakened after weighings, he even risked a backflip when stepping off the scale.
The first Brazilian athlete to step on the scale, Antônio “Junior Alpha” dos Santos had no difficulty reaching the weight limit. The Brazilian surpassed the 84 kg allowed for the middleweight division, the same mark presented by his rival, the British Scott Askham. In the face-off, Askham attacked Junior Alpha with everything he could and the Brazilian was not intimidated, increasing the tension on stage and heating up the atmosphere for the duel in the octagon.
Check out the UFC FN 69 weigh-in results below:
MAIN CARD
Straw weight (up to 52 kg): Joanna Jedrzejczyk (52 kg) x Jessica penne (51,7 kg);
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Dennis Siver (66 kg) x Tatsuya Kawajiri (66,3 kg);
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Peter sobotta (70,5 kg) x Steve Kennedy (77,1 kg);
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Nick Hein (70,3 kg) x Lukasz Sajewski (70,3 kg).
PRELIMINARY CARD
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): mawan amirkhani (66 kg) x Masio Fullen (66 kg);
Light weight (up to 70,3 kg): Mairbek Taisumov (70,3 kg) x Alan Nuguette (69,85 kg);
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): arnold allen (65,3 kg) x Alan Omer (66,3 kg);
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Niklas Backstrom (66,3 kg) x Noad Lahat (66 kg);
Middleweight (up to 84 kg): Scott Askham (84 kg) x Junior Alpha (84 kg);
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Piotr Hallmann (69,85 kg) x Magomed Mustafaev (70,3 kg);
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Taylor Lapilus (61,2 kg) x Ulka Sasaki (61,2 kg).
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