Joanna Jedrzejczyk was visibly mouthing some words to Rose Namajunas while posing for their face-off for the photographers during the “UFC 223” media day on April 4, 2018. After the face-off, they shook hands and posed for the photographers separately.
It was very calm unlike their intense encounter in 2017 when Jedrzejczyk was still the reigning UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion. Jedrzejczyk tried her best to put down Namajunas through words while the latter appeared catatonic during their face-off prior to “UFC 217.”
Now that the tables have turned, the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion belt did not change much of Namajunas’s calm demeanor. She still appears catatonic and she is still not a woman of many words but she seemed to have become more poetic.
“I’ve got some new muscles,” MMA Fighting quoted Namajunas as saying during the “UFC 223” media day. “I’ve got more knowledge but my spirit’s the same.
“I’m like a tree,” Namajunas added. “My leaves might change color but my roots are the same.”
Namajunas was largely the underdog at “UFC 217.” But she managed to shock the mixed martial arts community when she became the first ever fighter to defeat Jedrzejczyk.
After losing to Namajunas, Jedrzejczyk had her record downgraded to 14 wins and 1 loss. On the other hand, Namajunas currently holds a record of 7 wins and 3 losses.
When Namajunas made her UFC debut on December 12, 2014 at “The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale,” she was submitted by Carla Esparza via rear-naked choke. Namajunas redeemed herself and defeated Angela Hill, Paige VanZant and Tecia Torres at “UFC 192,” “UFC Fight Night 80” and “UFC on Fox 19,” respectively.
But at “UFC 201,” Namajunas has her second loss in the promotion when she lost to Karolina Kowalkiewicz via split decision. Namajunas bounced back and submitted Michelle Waterson via rear-naked choke at “UFC on Fox 24” become submitting Jedrzejczyk via punches at “UFC 217.”
With Namajunas and Jedrzejczyk as co-headliners, “UFC 223” will be headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway. Here is a clip from their face-offs:
CONAN Daily 