Juliana Lima 'knew' Joanna Jedrzejczyk would be UFC champion after debut loss

Juliana Lima

Juliana Lima was the first fighter to feel the wrath of current UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The champ defeated Lima in both fighters’ octagon debut, and the Brazilian isn’t surprised Jedrzejczyk went on to capture UFC gold.

“I knew that Joanna Jedrzejczyk would eventually be champion,” Lima told MMAjunkie. “She’s very long, has very quick boxing, and is very difficult to take down.

“People would say that I lost to an unknown fighter. But I knew she wasn’t just anyone, and that she could be a future champion.”

The fact Lima lasted all three rounds in a unanimous-decision loss to Jedrzejczyk at UFC on FOX 12 is encouraging. That’s more than a full round longer than inaugural 115-pound champ Carla Esparza made it before Jedrzejczyk knocked her and took the title earlier this year.

Lima said her performance against Jedrzejczyk and subsequent victory over Nina Ansaroff at UFC Fight Night 56 prove she’s among the top fighters in the weight class.

“Joanna also had great performances against (Claudia) Gadelha and Esparza; it reassures me to know that I faced the best in our weight class,” Lima said. “(I fought) under the worst conditions and was able to last all three rounds.”

Simply competing in a close fight against the now-champion is not always grounds for a rematch. Lima must earn her way back to Jedrzejczyk, and that mission starts tonight at UFC Fight Night 67.

Lima (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meets undefeated prospect Erick Almeida (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the UFC Fight Pass-streamed portion of UFC Fight Night 67’s preliminary card at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. The remaining prelims air on FOX Sports 1 prior to the main card on the same channel.

Headlines from the women’s strawweight division may be dominated by names like Jedrzejczyk, Esparza, Gadelha, Jessica Penne, Rose Namajunas and Paige VanZant. Lima, however, is prepared to take some notoriety for herself.

She doesn’t want to be known just as the fighter who went the distance with Jedrzejczyk. However, she said she’s happy to take on that label until she showcases her full capability and evolves into a top contender.

“I’m going to be a very different fighter (against Almeida),” Lima said. “On my first UFC fight, I showed 30 percent of my potential. And I showed 45 percent on my second fight. And I’m confident I’ll show at least 70 percent this time. I can’t wait for fight time.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 67, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.