Joanna Jedrzejczyk already at 118 pounds before final UFC 223 weight cut

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Joanna Jedrzejczyk is doing everything in her power to fizzle concerns about her UFC 223 weight cut. That includes revealing her exact weight less than 24 hours from stepping on the scale.

Jedrzejczyk (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who rematches Rose Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) for the UFC strawweight title in Saturday’s co-headliner, has frequently discussed her difficulty in making weight for her title-fight loss at UFC 217 in November. Now she’s making sure history doesn’t repeat itself.

The ex-champ said she’s largely taken her weight cut into her own hands, but also enlisted the assistance of famed nutritionist George Lockhart. It appears that’s worked for her, because Jedrzejczyk said at today’s UFC 223 media day that she’s already almost on weight.

“I’m weighing 118 pounds right now,” Jedrzejczyk told MMAjunkie. “So I will really not go through the weight cut. I feel strong physically, mentally. I will go and take over. No weight cut, no problem.”

UFC 223 takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Jedrzejczyk vs. Namajunas co-headlines the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Although Jedrzejczyk obviously wishes she’d never lost a her title in a first-round knockout at UFC 217, she admits some lessons were taken away from the stunning outcome.

“I had to learn how to be more patient, but I don’t care about what people say about the show business,” Jedrzejczyk said. “It’s a shallow, shallow thing. I don’t care about this anymore. I am free. I’m surrounded by good people and I don’t have fake people around me.”

Prior to losing her title Jedrzejczyk was immensely confident she would go her entire career without a defeat. She would routinely discuss that desire, but after her aspirations were shattered in one night, Jedrzejczyk said she’s been forced to make new goals.

The first and most important of those goals, she said, is to get revenge against Namajunas at UFC 223.

“I wanted to retire undefeated. It was my goal and dream. Now I have higher dreams, better dreams and I’m going to make this happen.”

For more on UFC 223, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.