This is the UFC 205 live blog for Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz, a strawweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
Jedrzejczyk, who is 12-0 in her career, will face Kowalkiewicz, who is 10-0 in her career, on the main card.
Check out the UFC 205 live blog below.
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Round 1: One of the UFC's most dominant champions here in Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Trying for another title defense against her Polish compatriot, Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Keith Peterson is the third. HE gives the instructions, and we're ready. It's Kowalkiewicz to center, and JJ bobs to her side. Leg kick from the champ. There's a nice combo from JJ, who is mixing in kicks and punches up top early. And again, as Kowalkiewicz comes in JJ unloads. Right jabs from Kowalkiewicz, and those hit home. This skirmishes when they come together are violent squalls. So far no upper hand. There's a very solid left hook that lands from Joanna, Some redness around the nose of Jedrzejczyk. Nice flurry from her, as Kowalkiewicz spins out of trouble. Everything being fought from range, save the moments when they trade in the middle, Nothing on fence, no clinch as of yet. And just as I write that Kowalkiewicz catches a kick, and clinches with Joanna. They go to fence, with Kowalkiewicz putting her might into Jedrzejczyk. They are twirling there in that toil, neither able to power down the other. Now they break, and Joanna to the middle. It's mean leather she's throwing, but Kowalkiewicz able to avoid any big clocks. Now Joanna grabs Kowalkiewicz and pushes her to fence, while unleashing a vicious elbow (which misses). They are walzing there, now a series of knees from each in the clinch. They break, Joanna with a heavy right hand counter as the round ends. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Jedrzejczyk, 10-9.
Round 2: JJ with some redness around her eyes. She took some punches in that first, but think she won it. They are back at it, and there's an exchange on the fence, as they clinch there. JJ looked like she was mugging Kowalkiewicz, and now they break. Kowalkiewicz comes in waving her left jab, and Jedrzejczyk comes over top with heavy chin music — she lands a couple of nice punches. Still, Kowalkiewicz is pushing. She comes in now and lands on the fence, before eating some retaliation shots. Head kick attempt from JJ, who continues to mix it up. She's carrying more speed — and more power— so far. Now they tangle up, and Kowalkiewicz finds herself being pushed to the fence. Again, Jedrzejczyk puts her hands on Kowalkiewicz's mouth and shoves her head away. Back to center. JJ throwing three punches to high kick a few times in the fight to varying results. Now Kowalkiewicz gets a single leg, and bulls Jedrzejczyk into the fence. She's selling out for this takedown, but not sure she has enough substance to get it. Now she lets the leg go, and the separate. They clinch the middle, and JJ has a mean shot on parting. A head kick from JJ is caught by Kowalkiewicz, and she drives a one-leg-and-hopping JJ to the fence. Can't keep the position, as JJ spins her around and parts with a beautiful elbow. Spinning punch from Jedrzejczyk to close out the round. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Jedrzejczyk, 10-9 (20-18 overall)
Round 3: Again as Kowalkiewicz waves the jab, Joanna comes over top with big decisive blows. Just more power in her shots. They clinch, and Kowalkiewicz has a single leg, but can't dump the champ down. She lets her go and they reset. Kowalkiewicz definitely a game fighter her, just by degrees a little slower and a little overpowered. Kowalkiewicz continues to switch stances though, making her hard to get a bead. Front push kick from Kowalkiewicz, and then one from Jedrzejczyk. They clinch and Joanna unleashes a couple of in-close shots on the fence. Incrementally, JJ is getting this done. Body punch from her, and now a heated top combo to leg kick. More clinchwork, and Jedrzejczyk has Kowalkiewicz on the fence — as they break she tries to take her head off with a right. Lightning quick stuff there from JJ, who is still throwing with velocity late in third. Kowalkiewicz ties her up and they go to fence. Kowalkiewicz hasn't been able to do a lot from this position, other than establish pockets of Octagon control. Now JJ reverses here there, and it's the champion leaning bodily into Kowalkiewicz, landing a big left elbow as they part. MMA Fighting scores R3 for Jedrzejczyk, 10-9 (30-27 overall)
Round 4: They trade in the middle, and Kowalkiewicz now pushes the action across the cage. JJ still controlling range, and she's definitely looking to counter any reckless aggression. JJ shoves Kowalkiewicz to the fence, and they jostle there for position. Nice trade there with JJ again waiting for Kowalkiewicz to initiate and blasting home the return. Big shot — a straight right hand — from Kowalkiewicz! That rocks Jedrzejczyk! She is on fence, dazed, and Kowalkiewicz is trying to pour it on. JJ able to tie things up, and looks like she is going to survive, but wow! That changed things for a second there. Now JJ takes the fight to the ground, and Kowalkiewicz pops back up; they are on fence, with Kowalkiewicz pushing the action. They are trading. Looks like Jedrzejczyk has recovered enough to bring the fight again, because she just played a nice combo off Kowalkiewicz's chin. A push kick to her chin too! That landed flush. That's the round. MMA Fighting scores R4 for Kowalkiewicz, 10-9 (39-37 for Jedrzejczyk)
Round 5: Very nice ovation here at MSG for these competitors, who hug to start the last round. Leg kick from JJ, and then she uncorks a crisp combo. They are swinging early here! JJ snags Kowalkiewicz and shoves her to the fence, and after a beat there, Kowalkiewicz returns the favor by shoving her back off. Kowalkiewicz still trying to move forward, and JJ nearly decapitates her with a head kick. Wow. She's also still throwing big rights. If any of those connect flush, it would be trouble — but so far Kowalkiewicz still has good movement and awareness. She may need to come on with a bigger sense of urgency, though, because she's likely down 3-to-1. Kowalkiewicz tries a spinning attack, and there's some chin music from JJ. Kowalkiewicz throws leg kick and eats a powerful left. Wow! This fight is full of exchange — neither willing to back down, both willing to stand in the pocket at longer intervals as we go on. Spinning backfist grazes Kowalkiewicz. Now they roll to fence, and Jedrzejczyk has Kowalkiewicz's wrist; again, she covers her mouth, and roughhouses. Nice right hand from the break from Joanna. Kowalkiewicz tries to trip JJ down, but that backfires, as now Jedrzejczyk has her back, and now puts two right hand heaters right in her temple. Vicious stuff. They are warriors. The round ends with Joanna throwing leather. JJ raises Kowalkiewicz's hands, and then her own. Lots of swelling on Jedrzejczyk's face, but here's guessing she got this fight. MMA Fighting scores R5 for Jedrzejczyk, 10-9 (49-46 overall for Jedrzejczyk)
UFC 205 official results: Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)