Karolina Kowalkiewicz talks Joanna Jedrzedzyk's weight claims, what she's like as a person

After her title-costing loss to Rose Namajunas, Joanna Jedrzedzyk pointed to a disastrous weight cut as a culprit.

Jedrzedzyk, who was knocked out by Namajunas in MMAjunkie’s “2017 Upset of the Year,” called her weight cut ahead of UFC 217 “torture,” and said she was happy just to be alive after 15 pounds in 14 hours. Later, in light of the “unforgivable” mistakes made in the process, the ex-champ parted ways with her nutrition team.

“The punches were not hard, but she KO’d me and the fight was over.” Jedrzedzyk recently told The MMA Hour. “Rose is a champion, I have so much respect for her. But I lost not because I was cocky – because I was not cocky or arrogant. But because of the terrible weight cut. And, right now, I’m happy that I’m healthy and I’m still alive.”

As someone who also has to cut weight, fellow 115-pound contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz understands the hardships of the process. But, then again, she understands it’s not easy for anyone. So, when it comes to her fellow countrwoman’s weight-cut-related explanations for the loss, it would appear that she’s not convinced.

“For me it’s nonsense and justification of herself,” Kowalkiewicz told Poland’s MMAnews Live, in her native Polish. “I don’t know, maybe it makes her feel better about it, and she’s able to lift it somehow psychologically. In fact, every fighter cuts the weight, and it’s not pleasant for anyone.

“Sometimes it’s lighter, sometimes heavier, but overall it’s not a nice process. And she puts the guilt on her dietary team. Doesn’t Joanna use her own brain? If Joanna saw that she had too much weight to cut, then …”

Kowalkiewicz then used her own example: Despite the fact she and her nutritionist are in different cities, she says they are constantly in touch. If something feels wrong, she communicates it and they make changes. Why Jedrzedzyk wouldn’t do the same is beyond her.

“If Joanna felt that something was wrong and had too much weight to cut, then I don’t understand something,” Kowalkiewicz said. “In my opinion, this is just one big fraud.”

Jedrzedzyk (14-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is now set to rematch Namajunas for the 115-pound belt at UFC 223. Kowalkiewicz (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has met both fighters before. In fact, it was a split-decision win over Namajunas (7-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) that credentialed her to meet Jedrzedzyk in a title bid at UFC 205. Kowalkiewicz lost via unanimous decision after five rounds.

Kowalkiewicz’s ties to compatriot Jedrzedzyk, however, went back further than that. The two had met in amateur competition before, in 2012, and Kowalkiewicz was choked out. But despite her familiarity with the ex-champ – or, it would appear, because of it – Kowalkiewicz has a clear preference when it comes to UFC 223’s title rematch.

“My heart is more with Rose for the rematch,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I just like her more as a person. I always look at who I like, who I know better, and that’s why I’m with Rose. Joanna is my compatriot, but privately she is not a nice person. In each interview, when a journalist asks her about me, she talks trash about me and offends me.

“So what can I say here? I won’t say that I will keep my fingers crossed for her, because I will keep these fingers crossed for Rose, who is a really honest, real person, and she doesn’t pretend to be someone else.”

Either fighter could soon be in Kowalkiewicz’s future, as well. Although the Polish contender followed up the failed title bid with a quick loss to Claudia Gadelha, she’s recovered with a unanimous-decision win over Jodie Esquibel. Given a somewhat open division, snapping the four-fight winning streak of Felice Herrig – whom she also meets at UFC 223 – could put her at least near the title picture.

And while she’s made it clear that she’s rooting for Namajunas to come out victorious of her first title defense, Kowalkiewicz has a different preference when it comes to who she’d like to rematch for the belt should the time come.

“Recently, I talked to a friend about it, and if I were to have another chance to fight for the belt with Rose or with Joanna, I would prefer to face Joanna again,” Kowalkiewicz said.” Somewhere my sports ambitions will just push me towards this fight. And if I was to face Rose, it would be a bit emotionally hard for me, because I really like this girl.”

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