We need to talk about Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s title defense against Claudia Gadelha in July. This isn’t your normal, run-of-the-mill grudge match between two fighters that don’t like each other. This is a war between two girls who hate each other.
And it’s the best damn rivalry in the UFC.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Claudia Gadelha +160
Joanna Jedrzejczyk -200
Over/under 4.5 rounds, over -190, under +165
Please note, the odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ODDS UPDATE
Since the lines first opened a few weeks ago Joanna’s line has gone down 10 points, with Gadelha’s going up 10 points. This indicates that most of the action has come in on the champion. We’ll keep you updated on any further movement.
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
The pair’s beef goes back to their December 2014 fight, when both were still unknown fighters in the strawweight division. J-Check got a little too close for comfort during the weigh-in staredown, and Gadelha had some words to say about it. The fighters started mouthing off and eventually had to be separated.
The fight ended up being an extremely close, with Joanna taking a split decision. However, the ending was marred by the fact that Gadelha clearly threw a punch after the final bell sounded. She immediately apologized and was not fined for her action. Since then, Jedrzejczyk has gone on to win the title and defend it twice.
Gadelha has been adamant that she should have won the fight and has been vocal about getting a rematch. The Polish champion has been equally vocal about how she thinks Gadelha doesn’t deserve one after a single fight.
If there’s one thing Dana White knows, it’s grudge matches. The UFC booked them as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 23, forcing them to spend a lot more time together then they’d like. According to Dana, the results were explosive.
"Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha, on the last day of filming when everything shut down, got into a full-blown fist fight. Head kicks. Nasty fight in The Ultimate Fighter gym. The show is over, the cameras were put away. The sad and scary part was very few people were left in the gym...Joanna Jedrzejczyk hit her with a water bottle and that's how the fight started. Wait until you see this season of The Ultimate Fighter with these two. They hate each other and the staredown in the gym was even crazy before the fight happened."
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale takes place on on Friday, July 8, 2016. The time, venue and coverage have yet to be announced.
