Joanna Jedrzejczyk ‘Angry’ and ‘Sad’ After Valentina Shevchenko vs. Sijara Eubanks Announced
Joanna Jedrzejczyk was stunned to hear the news that she was no longer facing Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 231 after the organization yanked the fight out from under her in order to make a new main event at UFC 230 instead.
The situation unfolded on Tuesday as the UFC finally confirmed a headliner for the upcoming card on Nov. 3 in New York where Shevchenko will now face former ‘Ultimate Fighter’ finalist Sijara Eubanks to crown a new flyweight champion.
According to Jedrzejczyk, she found out about the new fight being made thanks to reporters who told her what happened and she was definitely not happy with the UFC’s decision.
“Me pulling out of fight? Never!” Jedrzejczyk explained in a post on Instagram. “Here is the truth. Yesterday, I was informed that my fight had been cancelled. Unfortunately, I received this news from journalists so I was very shocked. I feel angry and sad. The already signed contract for the fight on the 8th of December was ignored. They were trying to persuade me into taking the fight in November, at the same time depriving me of a chance to properly prepare for the fight during the camp.
“Valentina is a challenging opponent and my goal was (and actually still is) to prepare for this fight as best as I can and to eventually become the UFC flyweight champion. I treat every opponent and fight seriously and with respect. I could fight in NY if I was interested only in money. Due to respect for other fighters and myself, I rejected the offer made by the UFC to change the date of the fight, as my main goal is to be at my best form during the fight and in order to do that, I have to do my job from start to finish.”
The former UFC women’s strawweight champion was understandably upset after just recently inking a contract to face Shevchenko on Dec. 8 only to have the fight cancelled days later.
Now Jedrzejczyk is left in limbo with no fight at UFC 231 and no guarantees that she will get a title shot after Shevchenko faces Eubanks in November.
“For 15 years I’ve been focused only on development, sportsmanship at the highest level and achieving my dreams,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Of course, martial arts are my job but most of all they are my passion, hobby and they fill my life and run in my blood. As a professional and a person who treats her life and work obligations seriously, I feel truly resentful about the breach of the fight agreement.
“My feelings are even more intensified when I think of the obligations I had to resign from as they would have happened at the time of my camp. I always plan everything long before a fight announcement. Once I sign the contract, there is nothing more important than fight preparations.”
Jedrzejczyk says she understands that the UFC had to create a main event for the card on Nov. 3 so in that way she knows why her fight was pulled in order to make Shevchenko vs. Eubanks.
Ultimately, Jedrzejczyk promises that this is only a minor setback and won’t deter her from long term goals to become a two-division champion in the UFC.
“I always try to put myself in somebody else’s situation, be it at a life or business one. Thus, I understand the quick decision made by the UFC key people to save the event in NYC,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Everything happens for a reason.
“Sooner or later, I’ll become the champ of two weight classes.”
