In an era where the UFC is in desperate need of star power, strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk continues to shine.

The Polish wrecking machine has dominated the women’s 115-pound ranks since her arrival to the biggest stage in MMA back in 2014, and has successfully defended her crown on five consecutive occasions. Jedrzejczyk has put up impressive stats throughout her run as divisional queen, and has carved out her place as a fighter to watch and admire across the MMA landscape.

With the spotlight always fixed upon her, the question as to what comes next will always be front and center. When speaking with James Lynch for SportsNet, Jedrzejczyk revealed there is nothing currently set, but she knows where she wants the next fight to take place.

“I just had meeting with Dana [White] and I said I would like to fight in New York,” Jedrzejczyk said. “It will probably happen but I don’t know. I want to fight in New York next. I don’t know who is next in line, I will face everyone.

“Probably. It might be Rose [Namajunas],” she answered when asked who her next opponent could be.


Although Jedrzejczyk has been a dominant force atop the women’s strawweight collective there has been talk over the past year of a potential move to flyweight in the future. The UFC doesn’t currently have a women’s 125-pound division, but all signs point to the promotion adding that weight class in 2018.

Should that be the case Jedrzejczyk could see a potential move up in weight, but only when her current division is cleaned out of contenders.

“Til the end of my fighting career I will be a strawweight fighter,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I may be a flyweight fighter because I feel great. Last year I was talking a lot about 125 [pound] division because we need that division. Next year we will have a champion in that division, but since I’ve been working with Perfecting Athletes I’ve been feeling great. My weight cuts are easy, I’m healthy and I feel great in 115 division.

“Yeah why not,” Jedrzejczyk answered when asked about a flyweight showdown with Valentina Shevchenko. “For this year I have to focus on my strawweight title, but maybe next year I will step into the Octagon in the flyweight division.”

With Jedrzejczyk’s success and having defeated nearly every legitimate contender currently in the division, it would seem as if the lack of options would be the catalyst for a move up to the flyweight ranks. On that front, Jedrzejczyk urged caution because she believes there are still plenty of fighters who could make their way up to face her for the crown.

“I think the strawweight division is still good you know?” Jedrzejczyk said. “Of course I defended my title for the fifth time. It was my eighth fight for the UFC and I think this division has lots of talent and great fighters.”

Yet, when asked about a potential showdown with rapidly rising Cynthia Calvillo the current champion became a bit stumped at the notion.

“I don’t know who that is. I don’t know,” she concluded.