When it comes to fighting in the UFC, nationalism is a big part of why it’s such a global sport.
Brazilian fighters and fans root for Brazilian fighters, American fighters and fans root for American fighters and so on and so forth.
One need look no further than the support Conor McGregor gets from his home country of Ireland as evidence of this fact.
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk though, has earned the reputation of a bully during her tenure as a UFC fighter. More often then not she’s seen trying to intimidate her opponents with mean and unnecessary trash-talk ahead of fight night.
This hasn’t earned her the support one would expect from a lot of her fighting peers and country as a whole. And one UFC fighter has just publicly stated that she hopes the belt stays in America, due to her dislike for Joanna.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz, is a former UFC title challenger, and has fought Joanna multiple times, both in the cage and in kickboxing matches. She has a rare and intimate knowledge of who the former champion really is, and she is not a fan.
Instead of having any loyalty for the flag Jaanna represents, Karolina will be rooting for “Thug” Rose Namajunas in the UFC 223 co-main event.
Here’s what she said:
“It’s tough to say, but I think Rose will keep the belt. Personally, I really like Rose. I really value her, not only as an athlete but as a person. People will hate me for not crossing fingers for my countrywoman, but let’s not lie to ourselves.
Joanna is insulting me in every possible interview. I’m not going to say that I cross my fingers for her just because she’s my countrywoman. I won’t cross my fingers for her. I like Rose more. I think Joanna is just a bad person.”
Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyl goes down on April 7, from Brooklyn, New York. They will compete in the night’s co-main event under the Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov title fight.
Here’s a replay of the interview, though it’s in Polish.
