Dana White Claims Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s Weight-Cut Was ‘Never An Issue’
Earlier this week, it was reported that the UFC Tampa main event between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson was in jeopardy due to Jedrzejczyk having trouble with her weight cut. Jedrzejczyk had reportedly informed the UFC she would be unable to make weight for the 115-pound bout.
Several possible scenarios were reported as to what could happen tonight, but in the end, Jedrzejczyk stepped on the scale and made weight for the bout against “The Karate Hottie.” When asked by TMZ about the reported issues with Jedrzejczyk’s weight cut, UFC president Dana White claimed it was all merely head games being played between two high-level combatants. (H/T MMA Junkie)
“There were what I will call ‘head games’ going on behind the scenes,” White said. “The problem with this whole story and everything going on is never, ever, ever was there a thing that Joanna couldn’t make weight. There was never a situation where Joanna couldn’t make weight. That was never an issue.
“Then I saw a story that said we were going to pay her fines if she didn’t make weight. That will never happen. I’m never paying fines for people who didn’t make weight. That’s a lie. That’s never going to happen ever.”
White even called out the UFC’s broadcast partner, ESPN, for buying into the rumors about Jedrzejczyk’s weight struggles.
“Yesterday (Thursday), my partner ESPN put up on their ticker tape ‘Joanna Jedrzejczyk didn’t make weight,’” White said. “The weigh-ins are today (Friday). It’s been crazy, man.
“What has been happening is there has been some head games going on between two veterans who are fighting in the main event of a fight that is very important in both of their careers and to see who gets the next title shot. That’s literally what is going on. And all of these MMA suckers fall for it because they’re hearing things behind the scenes or whatever is going on. None of it is true.”
Do you think Jedrzejczyk’s weight was ever a real concern heading into UFC Tampa?
