Claudia Gadelha: UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby told me ‘I don't wanna Miesha Tate you’

SAO PAULO -- Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Valerie Letourneau title fight is booked for next week’s UFC 193 in Australia, and it looks like top strawweight Claudia Gadelha will get the next shot at the title.

The Nova Uniao fighter revealed during UFC Fight Night 77 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that she will be in Australia to watch the championship clash, and will be announced as the next challenger.

"I wanted to fight this year, but I decided to wait because the UFC wants me to fight in February," Gadelha told the media. "They gave me this date. I’ll be in Australia next week for Joanna vs. Valerie and they told me whoever wins will be my next opponent."

Gadelha expects to finally get a rematch with Jedrzejczyk, who handled her first professional loss via split decision in 2014.

"I think Joanna wins the fight," she said. "Valerie is too heavy. I’ve fought her at 135 pounds and she was at 155 on the night of the fight, while I was at 134. She’s too big for the division and cuts a lot of weight and loses performance because of that. I believe Joanna wins."

Promised a shot at the title after defeating Jessica Aguilar at UFC 190, Gadelha is confident that she won’t experience what Miesha Tate did, seeing Holly Holm get a shot at Ronda Rousey even though the UFC announced her as the next contender days before.

"I spoke with Sean (Shelby) and he told me in English, ‘I don't wanna Miesha Tate you’," Gadelha said. "My case is totally different than Miesha’s because she lost twice and they don’t want to do a third fight, and my fight with Joanna was different. She didn’t finish me, and she wants this fight too. It’s completely different. I believe this fight will happen now."

Quote by Gadelha: "I spoke with Sean (Shelby) and he told me in English, ‘I don't wanna Miesha Tate you’" pic.twitter.com/zQ7PHjhXwR

— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) 8 novembro 2015

Update: The article originally quoted Gadelha saying Shelby told her "I won't Miesha Tate you", and was later fixed.