Report: UFC Tampa main event in jeopardy due to Jedrzejczyk weight-cut issues
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk had been scheduled to compete in the main event of UFC Tampa this weekend in a matchup with rising contender Michelle Waterson, but those plans are reportedly in jeopardy.
The news surrounding this weekend’s main event was first reported by Combate which states that Joanna Jedrzejczyk informed the UFC that she would be unable to make the strawweight limit of 115 pounds (116 with pound allowance), and her opponent this weekend, Michelle Waterson was offered a catchweight fight which was refused.
Also according to Combate, in an effort to keep Waterson on the card, she was offered to replace either the returning Mackenzie Dern who will have her first fight since giving birth to her daughter in June of this year, or Dern’s opponent Amanda Ribas. Waterson also reportedly rejected both those options as well.
Some breaking news from @raphamarinho of Combate this morning, who reports that Joanna Jędrzejczyk has informed the UFC that she will be unable to make 115 for this weekend's main event
Waterson is refusing a catchweight and has also refused facing Dern or Ribas per Marinho
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 9, 2019
After Waterson initially rejected the UFC’s offers, Combate updated their report by saying Angela Hill may come in to replace Waterson and face Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a catchweight fight, or Michelle Waterson could fight Jedrzejczyk at catchweight, or she can move to UFC 244 in November and face former champion Jessica Andrade.
Angela Hill may replace Waterson in the main and face Joanna at a catchweight and Waterson may move to the UFC 244 card.
Developing story and worth keeping an eye on @raphamarinho's account for any updates.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 9, 2019
Combate have updated the story and report that the UFC have given Michelle Waterson two choices: Face Joanna this weekend at a catchweight or face Jessica Andrade at UFC 244.https://t.co/k9IikNF4Aa
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 9, 2019
As the fight lingers in the air, Paige VanZant threw her name into the mix by offering to fight Michelle Waterson in a strawweeight matchup if she was available for UFC 245 in December. Waterson already has a first-round submission victory over VanZant which came back in 2016.
Hey @Ufc if Michelle doesn’t have a fight I’ll make 115 and fight her December 14th!!!!
— Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) October 9, 2019
Despite all the rumblings that the fight between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson could fall through and be cancelled, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani has put out the most recent update. According to Helwani, Jedrzejczyk will try to do everything “within reason” to make the strawweight limit of 116 pounds and she is expected at the open workouts Wednesday afternoon.
I’m told Joanna Jędrzejczyk had a good workout this AM and does not want the fight to get canceled. After it was made clear Team Waterson was not interested in a catchweight, JJ has decided to do everything — within reason — to make 116. She‘ll be at open workout later today.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 9, 2019
This is certainly something that will be monitored by the UFC and Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s camp leading into UFC Tampa, but as of now, the UFC has not released a statement on the fight or any plans to change the main event.
UFC Tampa takes place on Saturday, October 12, with the main card beginning a 8pm EST on ESPN+
