Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be giving fellow countryman Jan Blachowicz a warm welcome back to Poland if the 37-year-old can beat Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 to capture the vacant light heavyweight title.
Jedrzejczyk has known Blachowicz for around 17 or 18 years and knows the No. 3-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender has the skills and heart of a UFC champion.
“He does [have the skills to become champion],” Jedrzejczyk told SCMP MMA in a recent interview. “He was supposed to fight for this belt so many times, and I feel like he’s ready. I know he’s ready. He’s been training so hard. It’s been a while since he fought last, but I think it’s the time. I wish he was fighting Jon Jones, but the fight with Reyes is going to be a very interesting match-up, a very tough fight for both of them. It’s very, very interesting.”
“Just go. If you feel tired, it doesn’t matter how deep you are in camp, if you feel like your body wants to give up, don’t give up. Go and train, because you must be ready for everything and anything because it’s a championship bout. I know that Jan is a hard worker. He has a real fighter’s soul. He’s a warrior. Jan, go for it. Don’t give up.
Jedrzejczyk, a former champion in her own right, will be waiting for Jan at Warsaw Chopin Airport if the Pole successfully beats Reyes next month.
“Fighting for the belt gives extra power to your strength, speed, timing and your mental strength,” the former UFC strawweight queen said. “It’s super, extra motivation.”
“I will wait for him in the airport, or I hope that I can make it to the States to watch him live. I’m super, super happy for him.”
UFC 253, which is expected to feature a headlining middleweight title bout between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa, will take place on September 26 at a TBD location.