Karolina Kowalkiewicz: 'I want a fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk'
Karolina Kowalkiewicz: 'I want a fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk'
Joanna Jedrzejczyk dominates the UFC strawweight division right now, but another Polish fighter is slowly climbing the ranks--Karolina Kowalkiewicz.The Poli
Joanna Jedrzejczyk dominates the UFC strawweight division right now, but another Polish fighter is slowly climbing the ranks--Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
The Polish strawweight may come across shy and reserved outside of the Octagon, but her performances inside the cage have been ruthless. Since making her professional debut in 2012, Kowalkiewicz has won nine straight fights, including two impressive wins in the UFC against Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark.
While Kowalkiewicz might not be the most recognized fighter stateside, her popularity in Poland has grown significantly since she made her UFC debut in December.
"In Poland, we don't have many fighters in the UFC," Kowalkiewicz says on the UFC 201 Countdown show. "Always when someone fights in the UFC, this is something [big] in Poland. For me, this is something amazing that I am a part of UFC [201]."
While her start in the company has been impressive, Kowalkiewicz will face her toughest test yet when she takes on former title contender Rose Namajunas in what many are calling the "sleeper" fight for the upcoming UFC 201 card this Saturday night, July 30.
Kowalkiewicz certainly isn't sleeping on her opponent, though. She is well aware of what is on the line this weekend.
"I'm one step closer to making my dreams come true," Kowalkiewicz said. "This will be a very good fight for me because she was on The Ultimate Fighter and she beat some good girls.
"She's a very good, complete fighter. I think I'm the underdog in this fight, but this is good for me. I like the challenge, [and] I can't wait for this fight."
While the short-term focus is on Namajunas and UFC 201 this weekend, the endgame for Kowalkiewicz is simple.
"In the future, I want a fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, this is my goal," Kowalkiewicz said.
The Pole revealed recently that her goal isn't so much about the UFC gold, but rather to prove a point to the people that said she would have little chance if she came up against Jedrzejczyk
"I would like to deal with this," Kowalkiewicz said in a recent interview. "Everyone says that I would have no chance with her, that she would crush me. I believe we will meet in the Octagon and that it will be a great event not only for fans from Poland.
"I'm an ambitious competitor but the whole time I look at myself very critically. I do not believe there will ever be a moment that I can say I did everything flawlessly. I believe with this approach I will succeed."
The Polish strawweight may come across shy and reserved outside of the Octagon, but her performances inside the cage have been ruthless. Since making her professional debut in 2012, Kowalkiewicz has won nine straight fights, including two impressive wins in the UFC against Randa Markos and Heather Jo Clark.
While Kowalkiewicz might not be the most recognized fighter stateside, her popularity in Poland has grown significantly since she made her UFC debut in December.
"In Poland, we don't have many fighters in the UFC," Kowalkiewicz says on the UFC 201 Countdown show. "Always when someone fights in the UFC, this is something [big] in Poland. For me, this is something amazing that I am a part of UFC [201]."
While her start in the company has been impressive, Kowalkiewicz will face her toughest test yet when she takes on former title contender Rose Namajunas in what many are calling the "sleeper" fight for the upcoming UFC 201 card this Saturday night, July 30.
Kowalkiewicz certainly isn't sleeping on her opponent, though. She is well aware of what is on the line this weekend.
"I'm one step closer to making my dreams come true," Kowalkiewicz said. "This will be a very good fight for me because she was on The Ultimate Fighter and she beat some good girls.
"She's a very good, complete fighter. I think I'm the underdog in this fight, but this is good for me. I like the challenge, [and] I can't wait for this fight."
While the short-term focus is on Namajunas and UFC 201 this weekend, the endgame for Kowalkiewicz is simple.
"In the future, I want a fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, this is my goal," Kowalkiewicz said.
The Pole revealed recently that her goal isn't so much about the UFC gold, but rather to prove a point to the people that said she would have little chance if she came up against Jedrzejczyk
"I would like to deal with this," Kowalkiewicz said in a recent interview. "Everyone says that I would have no chance with her, that she would crush me. I believe we will meet in the Octagon and that it will be a great event not only for fans from Poland.
"I'm an ambitious competitor but the whole time I look at myself very critically. I do not believe there will ever be a moment that I can say I did everything flawlessly. I believe with this approach I will succeed."