Joanna Jedrzejczyk looks back on her most prominent year as Queen of the UFC Strawweight Division, becoming a polarizing …
[Applause] [Music] hey all you all you you are you ch [Music] a it’s all up to you how dedicated you are it doesn’t matter if you want to be successful athlete the UFC champion actor singer or journalist you have to love what you do in your life because without love you’re not going to make it you know and you have to sacrifice yourself sacrifice your relationships the time with the family uh private life to to reach the stars and make your dreams come [Applause] [Music] true [Music] it was a big pleasure and big honor to be on the same cart with Ronda Rosie hly Holm and defending my belt in the front of more than 55,000 people at the soccer stadium atti hat stadium in in Melbourne Australia I know it was such a big deal for the UFC because it was probably the first event where we had two main fights by women so it was a big deal for us female Fighters I remember the open workouts outside in the city center of Melbourne it was amazing the support I got the attention the love it’s crazy man I couldn’t believe I was I was part of it you know I love my fans they always give me extra energy she’s so cool she has the it Factor she has the personality but then she also is beautiful to watch she is everything that’s why I love Australian fans I love all of my fans it was great the atmosphere and the energy in Australia was was just different you know lots of love and Good Vibes only and that’s why I put on hell of a performance because of the energy they gave me at the open [Applause] workouts you ready I’m ready yeah I’m ready I don’t think so going to be last five you’re last you’re going to retire yeah I hope you believe your I promise to you look at this for the last time in your life say so mean J J oh we just love each other her last fight youa was looking at me weird is she crazy this woman is crazy I am so awesome matter of fact no more no more night yeah yeah that’s right What’s happen in Mel the way in I’m the best I’m the number one guys believe in yourself if you talk back it up I always do that defion the world it was intense valer was playing hard I remember she was playing hard but I felt there was a moment I looked into her eyes and I saw that she lost her motivation for a second you know this mental strength we knew that we were one of the best in the stry division in 2015 and we had to play balls somehow you know we had to put on this violent mental game outside the octagon and it was great and people love that and I’m just happy that we put on hell of a fight hell of a fight UFC 193 here in beautiful Melbourne Australia record setting attendance for this the first ever stop inside the ediot stadium you want to talk about a woman who just does everything Picture Perfect inside the Octagon yanan J is a six-time world Muay Thai champion is incredible strawweight title on the line here we go I don’t like watching wi fights both women with that kickboxing Muay type background Joe oh yeah I knew her lead kick was very dangerous and I knew I had to be careful but there is a difference in speed and in technique that you want to possesses look at this though the turno does get her down so you know she’s got a ground game she took me down she had very good start but doesn’t matter how you start the most important thing is how you end but lerno holding on to her here and lerno muscling her Mike she’s the bigger girl in there lerno with the kick I remember yeah this front kick changed the game and that time I used to say smell it smell it tast it FR kick to the face mat turn’s got to go into desperation mode she wants win this fight there’s really no other way she took so many punches and kicks but she she was tough she was tough got ourselves a fight I took over after the first round I was just getting better better he doing more and more such quick hands possessed by on J check and she follow up with a nice leg kick as well nice Jab now I look at Valerie I’m like I’m so sorry that she was like getting more and more swollen on her face well right up the front well done yeah another front kick I was chopping her legs with low kicks L turno was starting to welt up on that left leg from those kicks by y j I broke some record that time of the most significant low kicks in the fight in general know where you on jck third career five round fight for lero this is the first five round fight two was tough another girls would give up oh beautiful beautiful right hand by the champion with every round I was just getting you know stronger and more dominant front kick to the body Fifth and Final Round I love how the fans were reacting they were enjoying the fight oh man they’re going for it in this final round so good with those elbows on The Brak so effective with those damaging leg kicks she has devastated that left leg will turn out again another hard one I was winning the fight but I had to give everything I had to prove to judges that I was clearly the winner and I did that they fight to the Finish it was a good fight we ended up in the hospital me and Valerie but that’s the price we pay for it you know the judges score the contest 4946 4946 and 5045 for the winner by unanimous decision and still the Undisputed UFC 12we champion of the world I always get so emotional you know after the fights because of the amount of work I put uh into every [Music] [Music] camp this fight was not an easy fight Valerie was such a great opponent for me she was my big challenge that time she was very tough physically mentally uh we have uh such a good relationship right now because I moved to American top team few years later and that’s the funniest thing you know that we were such a Rivals me and Valeria Lor and now we there was a time we were helping each other preparing for our next fights and this is what I love about this sport today we are Rivals and the next day we are teammates and friends and we brought women’s MMA and Destro Vision to different level you know and I’m trying to do that with my every next fight just be better and bring it [Music] higher I know how the ultimate fighter back in the day changed UFC and brought UFC to the mainstream media I was just super excited to be part of something really big and really it was hard work because uh I put my heart into everything I do in my life and it was very important for for me to be the best coach I could be for the competitors in The Ultimate Fighter That season wake up guys if you don’t want to train hard if you don’t want to fight let’s make a holiday here do some cardio yeah I remember I was mad at them cuz they were lazy you know how many people want to be here and prove that they are the best that they can win I love them you know I’m I’m still in touch with them I just wanted to teach them that there is no short ways if you want to be the best or one of the best you have to sacrifice yourself and give everything you have you know help my opponent one two finish with Denny boom Oh I love JJ Helen I love all of them most of them still fighting and I’m proud of them I support them every time go for take down but it was hard teaching to keep an eye on on every single person you know but like I said I always want to give as much time and attention and energy for every person you cannot just you know standing here and and keep on punching you can teach people the techniques you can show them the way you can show them the door but it’s here and here and it was it was really difficult because I saw in them that sometimes they they didn’t believe in themselves I saw the future champions in every single person in my team it was great time uh it was great experience and I would do that one more time [Music] definitely hi Hi how are you today I’m great look what I nice I like that sure you do she like that you heard you’re never going to be the champ I played balls with her you Claudia I don’t interrupt in your training okay so could you move faster she was interrupting she was taking much more time that than she had she was not cleaning move faster your time your time is over you’re too funny okay go too funny too funny I don’t like when somebody is trying get into my face too close or when someone is stepping on my toe and definitely G was pain in ass what are you doing come down what down come down what more respect to the champion more respect for me yeah you should respect me you’ve got enough respect go you’re so funny man go respect is earn you make me life hard go home where I’m going to put you in shame do it no I’m going to away and enjoy it she was so smart she’s not that smart in the fight I’m the boss you’re the boss so make make me leave then I’m the boss make me leave go where go away go where go away go where go away go where go away go where such a hey don’t push me don’t push me you did it first you did first I’m not touching you that’s enough that’s good she didn’t know I was speaking Portuguese but I have learned Portuguese specially for youa that’s perfect that’s perfect that is perfect that is perfect cool awesome that time I knew already that I was I I was the winner and she won her team won but I remember what I said to her after we were done shooting we had the face off and I told her that okay maybe you want the season but you are not going to win the fight and Mike Mar Wards I will beat you up and prove you wrong that you are not number one you shouldn’t be fighting for the Bel and you are not going to be the UFC champion never ever ever live from Las Vegas Nevada this is The Ultimate Fighter finale hard to believe less than two years into her UFC career Yan J has boled to super stardom as the UFC strawweight champion her biggest weapon is her mind and her willpower she is so determined she talks like everybody she faces wants to steal her dreams and she’s got to defend them with her own life I had to win this fight for my fighters from The Ultimate Fighter you know I had to be the role model for them you know I was coaching them and what I said what I did for them in this show I had to Pi it up in this fight you want to touch clubs touch him now good step back good luck to if you bet the no touch gloves prop go cash them that ticket we have been waiting so long or so it seems for this rivalry to be consummated she was well prepared Cloud jelia against the champion Yani J sometimes we see Fighters when they really hate each other they hold back but not the case tonight as gadel is off to a fast start early knockdown for the Brazilian good recovery by yon J when you don’t give up and if you believe in yourself enough you still can win gelia trying to change that good combination by yon J she thought that she had a perfect plan but my plan was better because I was bringing the fight on my feet all the time good footwork though from Yana young J Che In Perpetual Motion both Fighters Landing down the stretch the Champs start to get her Rhythm and she’s come out fast and furious here in round two stops the initial taked down attempt but gelia has double underhooks nice Clin strikes here by gelia edge of your seat action as expected so far R is able to create some space she drops her hips just in time pretty good elbowed by yon jaek I remember that the camp before this fight was very hard I was training with so many stronger guys that were taking me down I remember that my legs hurt me so bad because of the amount of work I was putting in battle for position here excellent work from the champ who’s now on top nice elbows landed by the champion she wanted to be the champ but she couldn’t detron the queen 10 minutes down middle round of a possible five here fourth straight title fight for Yam J what me now young jck snapping off the jab here nice com by the champion as you can see I was taking over and I just knew that I had to do more there was no time to play around or waste oh another nice right left combination from the champ gelia covering up here don’t want to be oh Cadia knocko J check down briefly great recovery there by the champion absolutely oh nice elbows from the champ oh returned by gelia [Music] what a round what a round oh it’s great to see people standing up after each run actually after every run means that I like it and I was doing a good job you see why the champion is undefeated even while experiencing adversity tonight you do feel like she’s in control of the fight vicious combo there round four and this woman looks like she’s just getting warmed up I like the way I was using my Jeb and just stopping her you know she didn’t know what to do and you just have to wonder if gelia has in the gas tank po girl don’t know if she’s got any more in her and now G is just eating punches left and right the champion here trying to work in Striking range still fresh as a daisy I’m really five rounder you know and and after five rounds I can do another five uh on highest level and gadaa gadea wanted to be the champ but if you want to be the champ uh you have to be ready for five rounds of real war well what has been an epic championship fight so far has arrived at a fifth and final round AN appreciative crowd here in Las Vegas y jaek going over being a good sport there she didn’t want to shake hands uh before the final round yeah gelia says let’s hold off on that maybe until these Final 5 minutes are in the books we’ll see if gelia can get the take down heading into this Fifth and final round and she’s got to dig deep oh beautiful combination for the champion while she’s backing up she was really trying but she couldn’t keep the pace neither one of these Fighters has ever been finished gelia showing off quite a chin oh huge right followed by a left you’re seeing the entire arsenal of yan J tonight blood makes me more violent you know I like to make my opponents tired oh beautiful elbow good defense here from the champion and stand up and cheer but okay Claudia I forgive you it’s all behind and I’m honest I love you girl I I wish you all the best what a title fight turned in by the two best STW weights in the world and still the on UFC drawe champ of [Music] [Music] the it was really hard camp for me you know because I knew G was she wasn’t joking and she was very strong but you know I was the Champ for a reason [Music] I have so much respect to my old coaches and teammates and I became an MMA fighter because of my former coaches from Poland and we did it together I became the champ with them I defended the belt but I felt like I like something was missing that I had to sacrifice my life in Poland and move to the states I knew that I had to step to another level and I moved to American top team headquarter in Coconut [Music] Creek what I remember like everything was so new I didn’t know anybody and I knew a few Fighters but also from the first seconds I started working with Mikey Brown and cattle poies I felt that they were the right fit for me not only my coaches but my friends I felt that these people were going to support me no matter what let take down pass guard Smith I had such a short period of time before my uh next fight with Carolina kovalevich and I knew that I had to be double focused because of new coaches we were just starting knowing each other and it was hard you know it’s not easy to switch camps and it wasn’t easy to fight another polish and I know it was such a big deal for especially for Polish MMA ladies and gentlemen um my name is k i represent the Cil general of Republic of in New York today we’re having two great Fighters great contenders uh from Poland um we’re always very proud to show people poish citizens and especially was very important to me Polish women are the best yes we are Carolina yeah I had to be nice to her at the meeting with the consulate we are proud of being polish and we just wanted to tell the world show the world that we are representing our country around the world this is our championship fight oh my goodness oh my goodness I’m very proud of who I am where I was born and I’m always representing white and red [Music] colors they love me so much yeah it it was just fine you know there there was a bad bad blood between us two after after the press conference it was [Applause] [Music] big you know what’s funny thing like on this video you can’t see that she touched my nose you know she touched the forehead it looks like I started and I bumped her but she started she was always playing like super nice girl that she’s super like right but she showed me finger you can curse at me but when you show me the finger I go after you you know and what happened behind the scenes made me more violent more aggressive and I wanted to win this fight even more than before you [Music] know for the very first time in the 23e history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship the Octagon is inside the world’s most famous arena Madison Square Garden I was very thankful to Dana and UFC for giving me a chance to be on this card because it was historical event it’s an honor and a privilege to be here tonight and to be here tonight for the greatest card ever assembled in Combat Sports history like I’m just a girl from City in Poland and to see your face at the medicine Square Garden in New York City it’s big it means a lot to me you know like I like to be part of big things and I like to break barriers I like to break limits and hit another records so I was happy to be part of it you know Yan yek is so intense so driven and so ferocious inside the Octagon she is easily one of the most dominant and terrifying champions in MMA today here we go Koval kage in the white you own J in the black both of these women lifelong martial artist they are Poland’s best karolina very confident pressing forward here you want a so calm remarkably so and very skillful and you’re seeing that here now avoiding the punches sliding just out of range constantly switching stances I was controlling this fight good inside leg kick she took so many punches and kicks oh beautiful combination there with the left hook to the right leg kick classic combination great crowd tonight here inside Madison Square Garden every time karolina gets in range yanna’s been tagging her right there beautiful combination they clinch and this is where Carolina should shine she’s very strong yeah she was very strong and Yan turns her around nice you want to land a good knee to the body there and another trying to get that right arm free and she eats an elbow nicely done Koval kavage yet to really let go and engage good start for the champion one two all day ones and twos are working you’re Landing that straight right hand I felt very very very good with Mikey Brown and cutle kuis you’re doing great good round you’re really fine in your rain see what Koval kich can do here in round two she is more limited in her movement and Yana is being more effective yeah in finishing these combinations well with kicks there’s another one to the body there and kolina grabbing a hold of the leg she catched me when I was throwing the middle kick definitely more aggressive in closing the distance here there a good elbow on the break there by Yana beautiful leg kick man she was tough oh got her oh high kick to the face beautiful spin an inside leg kick as well great round great round great round hey you’re doing great I F that I was going to control this fight and I put on really good camp and I was not wrong you ready are you ready fight well what happens is when you have a dominant Champion the young Fighters come up with a very high Benchmark to Aspire to and that’s what you have in this strawweight division it’s not as if kolina kovalich is uncapable of making this a fight it’s just a matter of if she can find that opening get a big punch and change the momentum thus far the answer is no yeah but again it just doesn’t seem like she’s at the same level the champion is well in control I felt like you know she was the Challenger so definitely she deserved to fight for the bir but uh I showed her that I was the Champ for a reason she’s really dropping her hands now a lot over the top right hand is there Championship rounds round four look at that boom boom inside outside outside again she’s got karolina reaching down to try to stop those kicks cuz they’re hurting her legs she got to be careful careful about that cuz she’ll switch it up and go high karolina’s teeing off there yep nicely done it’s a best flurry turned in by the Challenger for sure beautiful elbow on the break there Laing attack big right hand oh yeah I I was trying to cut her with an elbow Kobo Cav moving forward can she finish here wow was close Co cage crowling forward in the UFC Octagon anything and everything can happen and one punch can finish the fight there’s that one big punch oh and she just got head kicked it’s a bad moment in this fight for me but I finished this run very good as in champ what a crazy fight this car out to be Yana with some beautiful knee workk oh excellent combination best five minutes of your Life coming hey stay sharp stay smart don’t give a Fifth and Final Round Koval kich will be ultra aggressive here Joe she’s got to know she needs to finish yeah no question about it she had her moment in the fourth round but the fifth round was was my round beautiful elbow on the break oh man beautiful front kick yep and a right hand on the chin of kovak kavich kolina presses forward again she knew it was last round and and she was losing the fight so she gave her best and she risked somehow you know kick on the break fighting to the Finish Poland’s finest Go the Distance and they put on quite a [Music] show what a fight this is what makes this sport beautiful you know the respect we show to each other after the fights you know what’s funny thing just few weeks ago I was training with Carolina and people were commenting oh we thought we you hate each other and the same what happened with Valeria you know we were Rivals we became friends and teammates the women put on a show here in the mecca Madison Square Garden wow still as you can see my sisters my brother-in-law when they can they travel to my fights and they are big support I love them so much and I feel like I don’t exist without my family thank you for the support thank you kolina it’s all for Polish people back home toas goas [Music] J check ladies and [Music] gentlemen I’m very proud of myself I was always focused on my fighting career that I wanted to fight for the best organization in the world became the Challenger became the champ defend the belt and that time I was working really hard and I was able to defend my belt and it wasn’t easy uh there were bombs upside Downs uh but that time it was uh the most important thing for me you know I want to be became the UFC straway champion one more time in my life and I know I’m on a mission and uh I feel like I’m getting closer Yana you November 2015 till November 2016 was a very special year for me very special 12 months I was part of two of the biggest UFC events in the UFC history and three successful title defenses and my legacy is my life and who I am I want to be remembered as one of the greatest polish it’s one of the greatest female Fighters and one of the greatest UFC Champions and very often people ask me what I would do if I was not the fighter I I’ll always say that I would still do the same I’m proud of hitting like a girl and fighting like a girl because it’s a gift from [Music] heaven