Joanna Jedrzejczyk Edges Karolina Kowalkiewicz in Classic at The Garden
Joanna Jedrzejczyk Edges Karolina Kowalkiewicz in Classic at The Garden
It was historic night for many reasons at Madison Square Garden last evening, but for European and Polish MMA, it will forever be remembered two women from Poland put on one of the best women’s fights in UFC history.
Jedrzejczyk came into the fight a heavy favorite with the oddsmakers, though you would’ve found it almost impossible to tell by the body language of Kowalkiewicz who walked to the Octagon soaking the moment in with her usual relaxed, calm expression.
Jedrzejczyk didn’t take her eyes off Kowalkiewicz the second she entered the Octagon and her eyes remained glued to her opponent as Bruce Buffer introduced both fighters.
The opening round began with both striking at range Karolina looked to close the distance and work her way on the inside. Jedrzejczyk scored early with a jab that knocked Kowalkiewicz’s head back but the challenger continued to come forward as Jedrzejczyk hit her with several inside leg kicks.
The two briefly clinched up after three minutes but Jedrzejczyk managed to keep Kowalkiewicz from landing any significant strikes and easily broke away. The round ended with Kowalkiewicz landing some stiff knees in the clinch again but as she broke away she ate a right hand as the round closed.
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Kowalkiewicz started the aggressor again in round two, but Jedrzejczyk was countering well with kicks peppering both the body and inside leg of her challenger as she closed the distance.
Kowalkiewicz relented though and pattern back to emerge with the champion being pushed back to the cage clichés initiated. As the round closed Kowalkiewicz bloodied the nose of Joanna with a jab, but Jedrzejczyk replied with a front kick that found the mark.
Both women continued a high volume of output in round three as Jedrzejczyk began to take the center of the Octagon and push forward. Midway through the round Joanna pushed Karolina’s back to the cage and landed a stiff short elbow that drew a big gasp from the crowd. Kowalkiewicz powered through though but as the third round ended she managed to push forward and reverse the clinch.
The championship rounds began with Kowalkiewicz again pushing forward and she had moment of success as she landed her own stiff elbow with Joanna’s back to the cage. A massive moment in the fight came when Kowalkiewicz appeared to hurt Jedrzejczyk with a right hand that temporarily rocked her. The challenger poured forward looking for a finish but Jedrzejczyk did just enough to thwart her and keep her just at bay.
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Kowalkiewicz landed another fierce right hand with one minute remaining but this time the champion took it well and started to rally back and landed her own big right hand as the round closed.
The final round began with the crowd cheering both women as they touched gloves before going at it for five final minutes.
Jedrzejczyk had seemingly recovered from a tough fourth round and looked to have plenty of bite left in both her kicks as punches. Kowalkiewicz’s volume dipped a little as fatigue seemed to settle in, but still she powered forward bravely offering a high output. A left hand from Kowalkiewicz seemed to briefly stuff Jedrzejczyk for a brief second, but the fire fight quickly continued as the two again clinched up and struggled for position.
The fight ended with the two women bravely standing in the pocket trading and as the final klaxon went they embraced with the crowd on the feet.
After a tense pause the scorecards were finally read with both women draped in the Polish flag. All three judges scored it like many had done Octagonside, 49-46 to the champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Jedrzejczyk came into the fight a heavy favorite with the oddsmakers, though you would’ve found it almost impossible to tell by the body language of Kowalkiewicz who walked to the Octagon soaking the moment in with her usual relaxed, calm expression.
Jedrzejczyk didn’t take her eyes off Kowalkiewicz the second she entered the Octagon and her eyes remained glued to her opponent as Bruce Buffer introduced both fighters.
The opening round began with both striking at range Karolina looked to close the distance and work her way on the inside. Jedrzejczyk scored early with a jab that knocked Kowalkiewicz’s head back but the challenger continued to come forward as Jedrzejczyk hit her with several inside leg kicks.
The two briefly clinched up after three minutes but Jedrzejczyk managed to keep Kowalkiewicz from landing any significant strikes and easily broke away. The round ended with Kowalkiewicz landing some stiff knees in the clinch again but as she broke away she ate a right hand as the round closed.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/797659248205275136" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Kowalkiewicz started the aggressor again in round two, but Jedrzejczyk was countering well with kicks peppering both the body and inside leg of her challenger as she closed the distance.
Kowalkiewicz relented though and pattern back to emerge with the champion being pushed back to the cage clichés initiated. As the round closed Kowalkiewicz bloodied the nose of Joanna with a jab, but Jedrzejczyk replied with a front kick that found the mark.
Both women continued a high volume of output in round three as Jedrzejczyk began to take the center of the Octagon and push forward. Midway through the round Joanna pushed Karolina’s back to the cage and landed a stiff short elbow that drew a big gasp from the crowd. Kowalkiewicz powered through though but as the third round ended she managed to push forward and reverse the clinch.
The championship rounds began with Kowalkiewicz again pushing forward and she had moment of success as she landed her own stiff elbow with Joanna’s back to the cage. A massive moment in the fight came when Kowalkiewicz appeared to hurt Jedrzejczyk with a right hand that temporarily rocked her. The challenger poured forward looking for a finish but Jedrzejczyk did just enough to thwart her and keep her just at bay.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/797663941757284352" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Kowalkiewicz landed another fierce right hand with one minute remaining but this time the champion took it well and started to rally back and landed her own big right hand as the round closed.
The final round began with the crowd cheering both women as they touched gloves before going at it for five final minutes.
Jedrzejczyk had seemingly recovered from a tough fourth round and looked to have plenty of bite left in both her kicks as punches. Kowalkiewicz’s volume dipped a little as fatigue seemed to settle in, but still she powered forward bravely offering a high output. A left hand from Kowalkiewicz seemed to briefly stuff Jedrzejczyk for a brief second, but the fire fight quickly continued as the two again clinched up and struggled for position.
The fight ended with the two women bravely standing in the pocket trading and as the final klaxon went they embraced with the crowd on the feet.
After a tense pause the scorecards were finally read with both women draped in the Polish flag. All three judges scored it like many had done Octagonside, 49-46 to the champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.