Champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk on 'TUF 23' filming with Claudia Gadelha: 'I broke her already'

UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk said she came out of filming “The Ultimate Fighter 23” with an advantage over Claudia Gadelha.

Tension between Jedrzejczyk (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Gadelha (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has always been strong. However, the relationship appeared to reach a new level of disdain during the six weeks of filming for the reality show. While no official season premier date has been announced, the show is expected to begin in April on FOX Sports 1.

At the UFC’s “Unstoppable” press conference this past Friday in Las Vegas, Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha traded coy comments about becoming “best friends” during the show. That was clearly code, because UFC President Dana White later revealed that emotions boiled over when Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha got in a “full-blown fist fight” after “TUF 23” had wrapped filming.

Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha will fight for the 115-pound title at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale in Las Vegas on July 8. The FOX Sports 1-televised championship bout is less than four months way, but Jedrzejczyk said she’s already won the psychological battle.

“I saw her every day for six weeks, so we became kind of ‘friends,'” Jedrzejczyk told reporters at a recent EA Sports media event. “It wasn’t hard. it was funny and I was enjoying every moment. I think it was hard for her. She might go crazy a little bit because one day I was nice, the next day I wasn’t. So, who knows?

“This fight started when they announced ‘TUF’ and announced our fight on Jan. 17 in Boston. I think I broke her already, but I cannot help (that) – it’s me, ‘Joanna Champion.’ I’ve just got to make sure I put on good preparations and I’m going to win the fight on July 8.”

Jedrzejczyk has a history with Gadelha that stems back prior to filming “TUF 23.” She handed the Brazilian her only career loss at UFC on FOX 13 in December 2014. It was a very close and competitive three-round fight, but ultimately Jedrzejczyk was awarded the spit decision victory, despite 12 of 14 media outlets on MMADecisions.com scoring it in Gadelha’s favor.

Since the first fight, Jedrzejczyk has done plenty to prove why she’s No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s strawweight rankings. She captured the UFC title and has already defended it twice. The No. 2-ranked Gadelha, on the other hand, has fought just once since that UFC on FOX 13 showdown.

Although that lone performance saw Gadelha handle former WSOF champ Jessica Aguilar for a clear win at UFC 190 in August, Jedrzejczyk said the single victory doesn’t justify a title shot. Nevertheless, she was willing to grant Gadelha the opportunity so she could silence her rival once and for all.

“I think she doesn’t deserve to fight for the title,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I’ve fought three times since last time; she fought just one time after our fight. But OK, she’s a challenger, she’s still No. 1 (behind me) in the strawweight rankings, so she kind of deserves it. I’m happy that I’m going to face her. I’ve got so much respect for her. She’s a very good athlete. Her jiu-jitsu is amazing. But I am complete. I am a champion.”

For more on the TUF 23 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.