UFC on FOX 13 results: Joanna Jedrzejczyk drops, upsets Claudia Gadelha in thriller

PHOENIX – Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) threw a major wrench in the UFC’s plans with an upset decision over Claudia Gadelha (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC).

Jedrzejczyk handed Gadelha her first professional loss and extended her unbeaten streak just one day after UFC President Dana White said Gadelha might challenge for the title with a win.

The women’s strawweight fight was part of today’s UFC on FOX 13 event at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. It aired on FOX Sports 1 prior to the FOX-televised main card.

The final scores were 29-28 twice for Jedrzejczyk while one judge dissented 29-28 for Gadelha, who was dropped by a stiff uppercut at the end of the first round. Jedrzejczyk did not push for a finish, but consistently resisted Gadelha’s efforts to assert herself on the ground.

Gadelha tired after the damage of the first round and repeatedly pushed to put the fight on the mat. Jedrzejczyk didn’t always manage to stay upright, but she made Gadelha pay when the two traded strikes.

A clash of heads opened a big cut over Gadelha’s left eye, and a doctor’s examination allowed her to recover. She blitzed Jedrzejczyk after the break with punches. Jedrzejczyk, though, stayed tough and traded heavy leather with the Brazilian.

A final exchange saw Gadelha launch a blatantly illegal punch after the bell, as the referee grabbed them both to halt the action, but her infraction drew no punishment. The two clashed on Friday during the event’s weigh-ins and did not congratulate each other following the decision.

Gadelha suffers her first loss in the octagon while Jedrzejczyk improves to 2-0.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 13 results include:

• Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Claudia Gadelha via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• John Moraga def. Willie Gates via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:06
• Ben Saunders def. Joe Riggs via submission (injury) – Round 1, 0:57
• Drew Dober def. Jamie Varner via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:52
• Bryan Barberena def. Joe Ellenberger via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:24
• David Michaud def. Garett Whiteley via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Henry Cejudo def. Dustin Kimura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Ian Entwistle def. Anthony Birchak via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:04

For more on UFC on FOX 13, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s Matt Erickson contributed to this story from on-site in Phoenix.)