Joanna Jedrzejczyk issues lengthy statement on cancelled fight with Shevchenko: ‘I feel truly resentful’

Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk was expected to fight Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant women’s flyweight title at UFC 231 this December 8 in Toronto. Unfortunately for her, this matchup was nixed not longer after it was announced, as Shevchenko was plucked from UFC 231 and redistributed to a UFC 230 main event title fight with Sijara Eubanks.

It should come as no surprise that Joanna Jedrzejczyk is quite disappointed with this turn of events. Yet having learned of her title fight’s cancellation through the media rather than through UFC officials, she’s even more disappointed than she would have been otherwise.

The former strawweight champion issued a lengthy statement on the issue on Instagram on Wednesday morning.

Here’s what she had to say (transcript via by MMAjunkie):

Me pulling out of fight? Never! Here is the truth. Yesterday I was informed that my fight had been cancelled. Unfortunately, I received this news from journalists, I was very shocked. I feel angry and sad. The already signed contract on the 8th of December was ignored. They were trying to persuade me into taking the fight in November, at the same time depriving me of a chance to properly prepare for the fight during the camp. Valentina is a challenging opponent, and my goal was (and actually still is) to prepare for this fight as best I can, and to eventually become the UFC flyweight champion. I treat every opponent and fight serious and with respect. I could fight in NY if I was interested only in money. Due to respect for other fighters and myself, I rejected the offer made by the UFC to change the date of the fight, as my main goal is to be at my best form during the fight, and in order to do that, I have to do my job from start to finish.

For 15 years I’ve been focused only on development, sportsmanship at the highest level and achieving my dreams. Of course, martial arts are my job, but most of all, they are my passion, hobby, and they fill my life and run in my blood. As a professional and a person who treats her life and work obligations serious, I feel truly resentful about the [breaking] of the fight agreement. My feelings are even more intensified when I think of the obligations I had to resign from, as they would have happened in the time of my camp. I always plan everything long before a fight announcement. Once I sign the contract, there is nothing more important than fight preparations.

I always try to put myself in somebody else’s situation, be it a life or business one. Thus, I understand the quick decision made by the UFC key people to save the event in NYC. Everything happens for a reason. Sooner or later i’ll become the champ in two weight classes. – Joanna Jedrzejczyk on Instagram. 

What do you think the future holds for Joanna Jedrzejczyk after this shakeup?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/3/2018.