After a brief stint in which she fought for and lost the vacant UFC Women's Flyweight belt to Valentina Shevchenko, Joanna Jedrzejczyk returned to the division she once ruled for over two and a half years on Saturday night. Fighting Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night 161 in Tampa, Jedrzejczyk looked every bit in championship form as she scored a five-round unanimous decision win.
A dangerous striker and kickboxer, Jedrzejczyk peppered Waterson with punches and kicks throughout the five rounds while keeping her distance and avoiding taking the fight to the mat with the submission specialist. After two rounds, Jedrzejczyk was well in control, but she suffered a bit of a scare towards the end of the third when Waterson was able to take her down and get her back. Waterson nearly sunk in a rear naked choke, but Jedrzejczyk managed to escape before the horn and rattled off a few strikes before the round ended.
Despite a badly swollen foot due to all of her kicking, Jedrzejczyk kept up the pressure in the fourth and fifth rounds. Though bloodied and clearly behind in the fight, Waterson showed tremendous heart and continued to press forward in search of a submission. Waterson did manage to take Jedrzejczyk's back midway through the final frame, but Jedrzejczyk avoided any real danger by breaking loose.
In the end, it went to the judges who scored it 50-45 x2 and 49-46 for the No. 5-ranked Jedrzejczyk.
With the win, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has officially put the women's strawweight division on notice.The loss snaps Michelle Waterson's three-fight win streak.