Joanna Jedrzejczyk expects to rematch Weili Zhang in UFC return but says she was offered the title fight
Joanna Jedrzejczyk expects to run it back with Weili Zhang when she returns to the Octagon sometime this year.
Jedrzejczyk last fought back at UFC 248 where she was fighting Zhang for the strawweight belt. The two had a classic as it was one of the best fights of all time but in the end, it was Zhang winning a split decision and since then, Jedrzejczyk hasn’t fought.
Due to her inactivity, the Pole was removed from the strawweight ranks but she says she will return and when she does, she wants to run it back with Zhang,
“Everyone thinks I’m not in the UFC anymore,” Jedrzejczyk said in Polish to Kanal Sportowy (translation via Sport.pl). “I am, I just dropped out of the rankings, because I haven’t fought for a dozen or so months. But I’m coming back and fighting (the No. 1 contender). It will probably be Zhang Weili.”
There is no question the rematch between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang makes a ton of sense. Both are 0-2 to Namajunas and likely won’t get a title shot anytime soon. However, the former strawweight champ in Jedrzejczyk said she was offered an immediate title fight upon her return, but that wouldn’t be until later this year as she would face the winner of Namajunas-Esparza 2.
“I thought it might be Carla Esparza, but (it’s) confirmed that she is the next to fight the championship,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Somewhere there is (Maria) Rodriguez, who also fights Yan (Xiaonan) in March, and (then it) becomes Zhang Weili. I don’t see any other fight. Just going for the belt. Dana made me an offer to fight for the championship, but I would have to wait until November, December and I don’t want to wait. I want to fight.”
Ultimately, it’s uncertain when exactly Joanna Jedrzjeczyk will face Weili but the good news for MMA fans is the former champ is expecting to fight again in 2022.
