Joanna Jedrzejczyk
LAS VEGAS – A rematch between UFC strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha is in the works, UFC President Dana White confirmed following Thursday’s UFC Fight Night 80 event.
White did not mention a timetable for the bout, which was in the works for this past month’s UFC 193 pay-per-view event before a hand injury scratched Gadelha (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), but he said the Brazilian-born Gadelha is “ready to go.”
Now, the only thing holding her up may be Jedrzejczyk’s (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) hand, which was surgically repaired after she defeated Valerie Letourneau at the Nov. 15 event.
The champ dominated Letourneau over five rounds to secure her second title defense but didn’t emerge unscathed.
Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha first met in a non-title fight at UFC on FOX 13 in 2014, with Jedrzejczyk taking a split decision. Although Gadelha faired well early in the fight, she tired in later rounds as Jedrzejczyk rallied.
In recent interviews, Gadelha said she felt she had won the bout and relished a rematch with the current champion, regardless of whether she held the belt. Even before UFC 193, she said she had recovered and was ready to take on Jedrzejczyk.
Now, she’ll get her wish.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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