Joanna Jedrzejczyk would fight Valentina Shevchenko on just hours’ notice at UFC 213 in Las Vegas, and the feeling is mutual. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is playing buzzkill.
Amanda Nunes’ withdrawal because of illness left Shevchenko without an opponent Saturday night, and after TMZ reported Jedrzejczyk’s interest in filling the void, she confirmed it by posting an Instagram video of her working out.
UFC president Dana White also confirmed Jedrzejczyk’s interest and poured plaudits on the undefeated UFC women’s strawweight champion, whose 115-pound fighting weight is 20 less than Shevchenko’s.
Shevchenko is hungry to fight, though, and pulled the negotiation tactic of meeting in the middle — at 125 pounds — to face Jedrzejczyk in the octagon at T-Mobile Arena.
.@danawhite @joannamma said she is ready to fight today.
I am ready now 100%!
Let's do it for the title belt in 125 lbs. Today!#UFC213 pic.twitter.com/QQWXiQdgVI— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) July 8, 2017
However, it appears the NSAC won’t sanction the fight on such short notice, MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported.
I’m told @joannamma was “BEGGING” to fight Valentina Shevchenko tonight, but NAC wouldn’t clear her. No time for medicals.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 8, 2017
If Jedrzejczyk was cleared to fight, it would come one year to the day that she defeated Claudia Gadelha by unanimous decision in the TUF 23 Finale.
#OnThisDay in 2016: @joannamma proved again she's one of the baddest women on the planet!
📽 https://t.co/jFUMswXYjX pic.twitter.com/ZMQvLJFCve
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 8, 2017
Thumbnail photo via Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports Images
