UFC 205's Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she's 'too good for them all' ahead of fourth title defense

NEW YORK – Although UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has said retirement isn’t too many fights away, the entirety of her focus right now sits on her upcoming UFC 205 title defense against Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Jedrzejczyk (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who attempts to make her fourth consecutive title defense opposite Kowalkiewicz (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a featured UFC 205 pay-per-view bout following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass at Madison Square Garden in New York, is high on confidence going into the fight.

Jedrzejczyk, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA strawweight rankings, is always filled with self-belief. However, after switching camps to American Top Team in Florida, she said her faith in victory against No. 4-ranked Kowalkiewicz or anyone else in the division is simply unshakeable.

“I’m strong and I’m too good for all of them,” Jedrzejczyk said at today’s UFC 205 open workouts. “I’m trying to be focused every day. There’s no option and there will be no excuses. I’m trying to be a smart athlete and train hard every day to be the best and be an undefeated champion.”

Jedrzejczyk has faced Kowalkiewicz once before, submitting her fellowing Polish fighter in an amateur contest in March 2012. She said that fight won’t bear any impact on the upcoming bout, though, mainly because more than four years is too much time for both athletes to evolve their respective skill sets.

“I’m different, she’s different,” Jedrzejczyk said. “It was four years ago, amateur competition. I became champion, defended my title three times. This will be the fourth time. She’s different, it will be a different fight. I’m strong and I’m too good for all of them.”

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.