BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 20: UFC women's strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland enters the arena before facing Jessica Penne of the United States in their women's strawweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the O2 World on June 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Strawweight world champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has a way with words, and her fists. The charismatic 115-pound queen is known to announce, "Nobody's going to take this belt from me."
Fighters need to pump themselves up a bit, and the Polish champ certainly has confidence to spare. She knows that defeat is possible, however.
In reality, Joanna will still feel like a champion, regardless of bout result, so long as she gives it her all. "It isn't that I'm scared to lose. I do not want to lose or feel that emotion," she began, during a recent sit-down interview with Chris Olech, in Poland.
"I know that if I were to lose, that I would have still given absolutely everything of myself. I know that I would have a clean conscience and soul since I gave it all."
Of course, she just happens to believe that her very best will be good enough, for a long time. "But," she finished, with emphasis, "I will be the champion for a long time."
Then, a smile, and shrug, as if speaking of physical laws like gravity. One doesn't believe in gravity, or in Joanna Champion, they both just exist, as matters of fact.
The 28-year-old is happy with how her current training camp is going, in preparation for her November title defense in Melbourne, against Valerie Letourneau. She believes in her team's formula, and is following it through until fight night.
"It is just a matter of time, now, and I will be in optimal form," she promised.
Her opponent is considered a huge underdog, despite recently having beaten one of the most promising contenders in the world, Maryna Moroz. The champion, however, knows how dangerous the Canadian challenger can be.
"I will be ready for five championship rounds. Valerie is a very tough opponent, regardless of what anyone says," she insisted.
"I always have a lot of respect for my opponents. She is very tough, experienced, and strong. I am conscious of the fact that she very nearly knocked Maryna Moroz out in the first round, recently. But, I am working hard to neutralize her from the early seconds of the fight, and win.
"It will be a very interesting fight between two strikers, though."
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