Karolina Kowalkiewicz on Joanna Jedrzejczyk: ‘I think she's scared'
At UFC 201, strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz got a huge win over third-ranked Rose Namajunas in the co-main event. Heading into the card, many viewed the showdown of top-five ranked UFC fighters as a potential No. 1 contender bout, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan seemed to confirm this saying that Kowalkiewicz would be fighting champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk next during his post-fight, in the cage interview.
When asked by MMA Junkie's John Morgan if the fight was official, UFC president Dana White said “No, not yet.” Later in the evening at the post-fight press conference, UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler told the media it was a "very strong possibility" and added that options and potential match ups would be discussed next week.
And seeing an opportunity to let her feelings be known, Kowalkiewicz, who was sitting to Sholler's right on the stage, spoke out and voiced her opinion to the media.
"I want the fight with Joanna," Kowalkiewicz said at the UFC 201 post-fight press conference. "I am ready for her. She said that I'm not on her level. I think that I am good enough to fight with her. I want a fight with her. Let's do this. Polish power versus Polish power."
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White himself said that "the fight makes sense" during a post-fight interview with Megan Olivi on Fox Sports and added "I tell you what, I'd love to do that fight in Poland."
Jedrzejczyk has made it clear that she would like to fight on the New York City card because of the city's large Polish population, much in the way Irish stars like Conor McGregor have fought in Boston. While that certainly is intriguing to White, he said he'd prefer to have the all-Poland title fight in Poland.
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White also told a story about the champion Jedrzejczyk campaigning to sign Kowalkiewicz to prove she is the best in her country.
"The funny thing is Joanna Jedrzejczyk wanted us to sign her, and said ‘I want to prove to everybody in Poland that I'm the best,' and now she has worked her way up to a possible title shot here with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, so it's very interesting," White said.
Jedrzejczyk has also since stated that she no longer feels the need to prove she is the best in Poland because she the UFC belt she carries already gives her the label of the best in the world.
If the fight doesn't materialize and Jedrzejczyk fights someone else in her next title defense the reason is clear to Kowalkiewicz.
"I think she's scared."
