The tension was high going into the the Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale strawweight title main event between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha.
They fought in 2014 with Jedrzejczyk winning a close split decision. Gadelha thought she did more than enough to win the fight and they trash talked through that time. The UFC paired them up to coach this season of TUF and saw fireworks. Fans were expecting a war Friday night. They got one as Jedrzejczyk won by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-45, 48-46) to retain the women's strawweight title.
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"I have so much respect for her," Jedrzejczyk said in her post-fight interview. "Claudia, so many things happened between me and you. I’m so sorry."
Gadelha came right out of the gate firing, dropping Jedrzejczyk with a short left hook and a quick takedown. Jedrzejczyk started to come back with her striking. Gadelha, though, was able to score another takedown and landed hard ground and pound punches.
The second round had both fighters come out striking, but Gadelha went back to the well of keeping the fight at a close distance against the cage and secured another takedown. Even though Jedrzejczyk was able to get up, Gadelha continued to apply pressure, throwing short shots against the cage and making the Polish fighter expend all her energy to try to get out of the position.
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The third round began like the second as champion and challenger traded shots with heavy intentions, but the Brazilian went back to what got her to this point and took down Jedrzejczyk two more times. About two minutes into the round, Gadelha looked exhausted and Jedrzejczyk went to work on the feet, popping her right hand and mixing it up with front kicks. Gadelha sensed some urgency, went for a takedown but reversed it, walked away and made Gadelha get back to her feet. They traded strikes as the round came to a close to a loud ovation from the crown in Las Vegas.
Jedrzejczyk began the fourth looking to control with her striking and was effective in controlling the action on the feet by mixing up her strikes with her hands and feet, changing stances and striking positions. Gadelha looked exhausted and had no answer for the champion. Her movement and punches were coming in slower and slower.
The fifth and final round began with what we saw the entire fourth round — Jedrzejczyk stepping back and connecting on a combination. Gadelha, sensing the fight was getting away from her, bum rushed Jedrzejczyk and tried for a takedown but was unsuccessful as the champion reversed position and got the fight back to the center of the octagon. Jedrzejczyk went back to work, connecting on combinations, but Gadleha once again went to get the fight to the mat. But Jedrzejczyk was having none of it. She reversed it, backed up and made Gadelha come to her. Jedrzejczyk continued to pour it on as the round and fight came to a close.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, The Fight Club Chicago, and subscribe on iTunes. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
