Joanna Jedrzejczyk wasn't trying to punish Jessica Penne at UFC Fight Night 69

Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Penne

BERLIN – Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s UFC Fight Night 69 win over Jessica Penne was undeniably brutal.

The champion outlanded the challenger 162-28 in total strikes, leaving Penne covered in blood and looking hopeless before the referee eventually jumped in for the third round TKO.

But the brutality of the fight wasn’t some sort of intentional “punishment” by the champion, despite any bad blood that may have existed ahead of the bout.

Jedrzejczyk (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) explained at the post-fight press conference at O2 World Berlin in Germany’s capital city that Penne’s (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) toughness made slowing down the attack necessary.

“No, I was listening to my corner and my trainers,” Jedrzejczyk said. “They said that I should take it easy, just throw a few punches one by one with some extra angles. I did what they said and it was a key to the success.”

The champion was also happy that the performance allowed her to show that she had a few new wrinkles to her game, something she hopes she’ll be able to continue showcasing in upcoming bouts.

“I said before the fight that I had a few aces in my pocket,” Jedrzejczyk said. “So I dropped a few kicks and she was surprised, I think. But I’m doing lots of wrestling and jiu-jitsu. I think I have other aces in my pocket, so wait for the next fight.”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 69, check out the UFC Events section of the site.