UFC 205: Joanna Jedrzejczyk successfully defends title against Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Here is how the UFC 205 strawweight title between Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz played out
On Saturday, November 12, reigning UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk looked to defend her 115-pound title against fellow Polish standout Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 205. The entire event went down at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Jedrzejczyk was last seen defending her title with a decision win over longtime rival Claudia Gadelha at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale in July. This marked her second win over her Brazilian counterpart after defeating her at UFC on FOX 13 in 2014. Kowalkiewicz, a former KSW Women’s flyweight champion, earned her title shot with a narrow split decision over former title challenger Rose Namajunas at UFC 201 in July.
Here is how the fight unfolded, round-by-round, including FanSided’s scoring of the fight.
Round 1: No touch of the gloves from these two Polish standouts. Kowalkiewicz immodestly took the center of the Octagon as the champion looked to establish the jab from the outside. Jedrzejczyk looked to land an overhand right before connecting with a blistering combo, stunning Kowalkiewicz momentarily. With Jedrzejczyk, finding her groove, Kowalkiewicz attempted her own combo was met with another flurry followed by a hard leg kick from Jedrzejczyk. Connecting at will, Jedrzejczyk continued to pick up apart her opponent until Kowalkiewicz closed the distance, pressing her into the fence. With both women struggling to maintain control they broke free, but not before Kowalkiewicz connected with a standing elbow and one-two combo. With 30 seconds left in the round, Jedrzejczyk clinched up against the fence, landing a series of knees to close out the opening frame. FanSided scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
Beautiful combos by the champ @JoannaMMA! #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/hPat7SjfT3
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
Round 2: Picking up right where they left off, Jedrzejczyk looked to once again establish the pace from the outside. Kowalkiewicz again attempted to press the fight back into the fence but Jedrzejczyk evaded as she plastered her opponent with a one-two. After another clinch battle, Jedrzejczyk started to batter Kowalkiewicz’s lead leg with a series of leg kicks. Looking to escape more damage, Kowalkiewicz snatched up Jedrzejczyk’s leg in attempts to secure the single leg takedown against the fence. After successfully defending, Jedrzejczyk broke free but ate a hard straight left from Kowalkiewicz. After catching another kick, Kowalkiewicz tried in van to drag her opponent to canvas. Yet again Jedrzejczyk defended and closed out the round with another leg kick. FanSided scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
Round 3: After finally touching gloves, both women immediately clinched up against the fence. After breaking free, Jedrzejczyk stalked her opponent down with a series of high kicks followed by more leg kicks. Sending Kowalkiewicz was fading, Jedrzejczyk plodded forward as she unloaded a barrage of combos and body kicks to her visibly frustrated opponent. After a short lull in the action, Kowalkiewicz started to pick up the pace with her own combos. But immediately clinched up again and closed out the round with a powerful standing elbow between the eyes. FanSided scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
Round 4: With her opponent feeling the effects from the two pervious rounds, Jedrzejczyk opened up the first championship round with a series of body kicks before clinching back up against the fence. After breaking free Kowalkiewicz rocked the champion with powerful straight right, sending her stumbling back. With Jedrzejczyk reeling, Kowalkiewicz pressed the attacked with a barrage of kicks and elbows. While Jedrzejczyk would land a head kick, she was still clearly feeling the effects from the previous combo. After getting her wits back about her, Jedrzejczyk planted a hard standing elbow to the temple of Kowalkiewicz. Both fighters closed out the fourth round with a flurry against the fence, as the crowd erupted around them. FanSided scores it 10-9 Kowalkiewicz
OHHHHHHHHH @KarolinaMMA tagged the champ!!!! #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/gJiEbtIb4I
— #UFC205 (@ufc) November 13, 2016
Round 5: With the crowd on their feet, both women hugged in the center of the Octagon to kick off the final round. With the champion taking the outside, Kowalkiewicz attempted to press the attack but could do little as Jedrzejczyk continuously connected with a straight kick to the body. With two minutes left in the round, both fighters bit down on their mouth guard as they traded leather with reckless abandonment in the center of the Octagon. As the fight came to an end, both women embraced as their couches stormed into the Octagon, celebrating the war they just witnessed. FanSided scores it 10-9 Jedrzejczyk
OFFICIAL RESULT: Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
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