LOS ANGELES – The scene has played out almost every time during UFC weigh-ins when Joanna Jedrzejczyk fights.
The strawweight champion steps off the scale, then briskly walks toward her opponent with intent. Jedrzejczyk lowers her shoulders and angles her face to get intensely close up so she can stare deep into her opponent’s eyes, which inevitably leads to the two fighters having to be separated.
Is this all for show? Part of a gimmick? Not exactly. While it’s out of character, there’s a method to Jedrzejczyk’s approach.
Jedrzejczyk (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who goes for her fifth straight successful title defense May 13 vs. Jessica Andrade (16-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC 211, describes herself as the happy-go-lucky type, always positive and cracking jokes. But once fight week arrives, something clicks.
And that’s how you end up with UFC President Dana White having to intervene in her face-offs up on stage.
“I’m a kind of funny person, and I like to be happy, I like to smile,” Jedrzejczyk said Thursday during a media luncheon. “But during preparations, during fight week … there is no time to be funny. It’s time to be serious. And I like to see the limits of people. I like to look into the eyes of my opponents and read them. I like to find out if they are scared or if they’re ready.”
For the champ, it’s also about being in control.
“I feel like it gives me extra energy,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I feel like it helps me keep control in the last hours before the fight. If you let them get into your head, then you’re losing.”
Check out the video above to hear more from Jedrzejczyk.
And for more on UFC 211, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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