LOS ANGELES — Some fighters have criticized Paige VanZant for her somewhat provocative Instagram video about Reebok earlier this week. Others have poked fun at the whole thing.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk did neither of those things. She hasn’t seen the video, but heard about it and doesn’t care how VanZant chooses to promote herself or her sponsor, she said at a UFC 211 media lunch Thursday.
“The thing is I like to show my interaction with Reebok a little bit of a different way than this, but it’s all about kicks,” said Jedrzejczyk, who is also sponsored by Reebok. “Good style, if I’m having fun. But I respect that.
“I like Paige VanZant. I think she’s young, talented, very good-looking girl and she became one of the most popular female fighters in the UFC, in the world.”
No hate coming from Jedrzejczyk, who is the champion of the UFC women’s strawweight division that VanZant competes in.
Fellow UFC strawweight Angela Hill slammed VanZant for the video, which VanZant shot on her phone to promote Reebok’s new black and white collection, on Twitter. Lauren Murphy and Jeremy Kennedy followed suit. VanZant posted it on Twitter, too, but later deleted it.
Just call 1-800-HOT-GIRL and talk to real live girls. We can't frickin wait to answer your call. Call now! https://t.co/HIJlbhhOCN
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 30, 2017
@AngieOverkill I thought this was fake. I thought this was a fake ad. It's not.
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) April 30, 2017
What the hell did I just watch https://t.co/nO7FSzFXhT
— Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) April 30, 2017
ONE Championship welterweight champ Ben Askren did a parody spoof of VanZant’s video and Chris Weidman followed suit with his own “sexy” video Thursday. Weidman is also sponsored by Reebok and said he was showing support for VanZant.
Jedrzejczyk, who defends her title against Jessica Andrade at UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas, said she’ll watch the video eventually. Either way, she has no ill will toward VanZant. In fact, after meeting her on multiple occasions, she likes “12 Gauge” and hopes the best for her.
“Lots of luck to Paige VanZant,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I met her a few times. She’s very nice girl. She needs to get this experience.”