Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has fought some of the best female fighters in the world throughout her career as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist, but only a couple of athletes have truly tested her resolve.
Jedrzejczyk won the strawweight title by stopping Carla Esparza in the second round in 2015 at UFC 185, and successfully defended her title five times, against Jessica Penne, Valerie Letourneau, Claudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jessica Andrade, before losing her belt in a brutal first round knockout loss at UFC 217 to Rose Namajunas, who defeated her by unanimous decision in their title rematch as well.
The Pole’s next two title fights came against Valentina Shevchenko, who defeated her by unanimous decision to win the flyweight title at UFC 231, and against Zhang Weili in her most recent fight at UFC 248, where Jedrzejczyk lost by a razor close split decision. The 34-year-old’s resume includes some of the hardest hitting female fighters in the world, but there are a couple of fighters who stand out.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk Names Who Hit Her The Hardest
Speaking on the Punchin’ In podcast (as transcribed by MMA Junkie), Jedrzejczyk said that while Namajunas hits really hard as well, Valerie Letourneau is the hardest puncher she’s ever faced.
“The first one [fight with Namajunas], I don’t remember,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I didn’t feel the power. I just went to sleep, but there were some things that happened before the fight. In the second fight, I felt she was hitting pretty hard, but you know who hit the hardest? Valerie Letourneau. She was the hardest puncher I have ever faced…so Valerie and then Rose.
“For so many years, they were only talking about [Namajunas’] grappling, how good she is on the ground, but I think her striking is really, really good. Top level. Very precise, good timing and very, very strong. She’s very strong.”
Who do you think Joanna Jedrzejczyk should fight next?
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