UFC 230: ‘Angry’ Joanna Jedrzejczyk rips UFC for breach of fight agreement

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s strawweight champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, wanted a full and complete fight camp before trying to overthrow former bantamweight title contender, Valentina Shevchenko.

I can’t say I blame her, as “Bullet” is one of the most ruthless strikers in all of mixed martial arts (MMA) and has already been in camp for several months, thanks to a Nicco Montano title fight that never came to fruition (because of this).

That’s why Jedrzejczyk turned down the promotion’s request to move their flyweight title bout from Dec. 8 in Toronto to Nov. 3 in New York, only to find out that UFC went ahead and moved the fight anyway, replacing her with The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 26 finalist Sijara Eubanks.

An “angry” and “sad” Jedrzejczyk vents on social media.

The already signed contract on the 8th of December was ignored. They were trying to persuade me into taking the fight in November, at the same time depriving me of a chance to properly prepare for the fight during the camp. Valentina is a challenging opponent, and my goal was (and actually still is) to prepare for this fight as best I can, and to eventually become the UFC flyweight champion. I could fight in NY if I was interested only in money. Due to respect for other fighters and myself, I rejected the offer made by the UFC to change the date of the fight, as my main goal is to be at my best form during the fight, and in order to do that, I have to do my job from start to finish.

I feel truly resentful about the breach of the fight agreement. My feelings are even more intensified when I think of the obligations I had to resign from, as they would have happened in the time of my camp. I always plan everything long before a fight announcement. Once I sign the contract, there is nothing more important than fight preparations. I always try to put myself in somebody else’s situation, be it a life or business one. Thus, I understand the quick decision made by the UFC key people to save the event in NYC. Everything happens for a reason. Sooner or later I’ll become the champ in two weight classes.

Whether or not Jedrzejczyk returns to the 115-pound division remains to be seen.

Moving the flyweight title fight to the UFC 230 main event was a last-ditch effort to get the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden topped with a championship contest. And since this fight was unable to materialize, matchmakers robbed Peter Joanna to pay Paul Valentina.

While fans were hoping that Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier could fight for an inaugural 165-pound strap, promotion president Dana White reiterated his refusal to create more weight classes, which he believes will dilute the formula.

Based on fan outrage, the new UFC 230 main event may end up doing that anyway.