Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk was expecting to face Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231 for the vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight Title.
However, a wrench was thrown in those plans by the UFC, who opted to have Shevchenko faces Sijara Eubanks for that vacant title in the main event of UFC 230.
Jedrzejczyk would take to Instagram to tell her side of why a title shot was lost:
Here is a translation what Jedrzejczyk wrote on Instagram:
Me pulling out of fight? Never! Here is the truth. Yesterday I was informed that my fight had been cancelled. Unfortunately, I received this news from journalists, I was very shocked. I feel angry and sad. 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 opponents, 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 treat every opponent and fight serious and with respect. 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.
For 15 years I’ve been focused only on development, sportsmanship at the highest level and achieving my dreams. Of course, martial arts are my job, but most of all, they are my passion, hobby, and they fill my life and run in my blood. As a professional and a person who treats her life and work obligations serious, 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.
If the fight had gone through as planned, it would’ve given Jedrzejczyk an opportunity to become the first female fighter in UFC history to hold two titles in two different weight classes.
UFC 230 takes place on Saturday, November 3 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Valentina Shevchenko and Sijara Eubanks headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
