SINGAPORE – Nothing has changed for Joanna Jedrzejczyk now that UFC president Dana White has confirmed the winner of her rematch with Zhang Weili will challenge for the strawweight title.
Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is scheduled to run back the 2020 Fight of the Year with Weili (21-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) on Saturday in the UFC 275 featured bout, which takes place at Singapore Indoor Stadium and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
It’s a marquee fight between two former UFC champions, and White revealed this week that the winner will get first crack at newly minted 115-pound champ Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC). That type of news on fight week could serve as a boost for some fighters, but for Jedrzejczyk, it just solidifies her expectation.
“I knew that,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 275 media day. “I would not sign (a bout) agreement for this fight if I didn’t know that I was going to be next after winning. So yeah, I knew that. I’m not surprised. It’s good. I feel like we both deserve.”
Jedrzejczyk will return to the octagon for the first time in 27 months when she meets Weili at UFC 275. She told MMA Junkie earlier this week that the time off has her “refreshed” mentally and physically.
If Jedrzejczyk win this rematch, she will get a chance at another rematch with Esparza. She took the belt from Esparza once before at UFC 185 in March 2015, and the stage is set to potentially repeat history.
First, though, Jedrzejczyk knows she has her hands full with Weili.
“I’m ready for anything and everything,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I’m in the best shape ever, and I know Weili Zhang is, as well.”
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to Dana White confirming title shot with UFC 275 win: ‘I knew this’