One in every of the largest women’s fights of all time goes down at UFC 322.
Pound-for-pound queen Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight crown against the #2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and former champ Zhang Weili within the co-main event of UFC 322 this weekend.
After three title defenses in a row, Zhang vacated her strawweight belt earlier this 12 months in an effort to grow to be a two-division champion at 125 lbs.
Shevchenko, a fellow two-time champion, notched her eighth successful title defense against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 in May.
Each women made championship weight Friday morning, making their fight official for Saturday.
While her services wouldn’t be needed, a former champion considered being a back-up fighter for the title fight.
- READ MORE: Ronda Rousey sends Zhang Weili healthful message of support before UFC 322 title fight
Joanna Jedrzejczyk had hoped to be backup fighter for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has a combined six fights with Shevchenko and Zhang.
Poland’s former UFC women’s strawweight champion fought Shevchenko thrice in Muay Thai before she lost a flyweight title fight to Shevchenko (via decision) at UFC 231 in 2018.
Jedrzejczyk nearly defeated Zhang of their 2020 ‘fight of the 12 months’ contender, however the UFC Hall of Famer was knocked out of their 2022 rematch and retired thereafter.
Jedrzejczyk weighed in on her former foes fighting at UFC 322.
“I’m actually very near Weili and Valentina,” Jedrzejczyk said at a Q&A.
“I’ve [known] Valentina for years from Muay Thai times.
“I used to be really hoping to be the backup for this fight,” Jedrzejczyk added.
“Even without training.
“But, after I checked my weight, I discover that I will be the backup for Malcolm [Wellmaker],” the previous strawweight joked about fighting at bantamweight as an alternative.
“But truthfully, I don’t know, what I do know [is] that this fight goes to be one in all the best fights in [women’s MMA history],” said Jedrzejczyk.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is one in all three women within the UFC Hall of Fame
In some eyes, Jedrzejczyk remains to be the best strawweight fighter of all time.
Jedrzejczyk has probably the most consecutive title defenses in strawweight history (5). Her resume includes wins over Jessica Andrade, Claudia Gadelha (twice), Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Carla Esparza.
Jedrzejczyk became the second woman to be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame in 2024, two years after her retirement.
Rousey was the primary woman to be inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame. Amanda Nunes, the consensus biggest female fighter of all time, was the third to be inducted in 2025.