Namajunas stuns Jedrzejczyk by 1st-round KO to win UFC strawweight title
Rose Namajunas brought an abrupt end to the Joanna Champion era.
The 25-year-old dropped Joanna Jedrzejczyk with a left hook before unleashing a barrage of follow-up punches for a first-round knockout that won her the strawweight title at UFC 217 in New York City on Saturday.
Uaaal! Tem nova campeã no peso palha! "Quebrou a banca" Rose Namajunas(4ª)🇺🇸vence por nocaute Joanna Jedrzejczyk(C)🇵🇱 - #UFC217NoCombate pic.twitter.com/uN4FwdDtef
— Raimundo de Andrade (@andraderaimundo) November 5, 2017
The previously undefeated Jedrzejczyk aimed to tie former women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey with a UFC women's-record sixth title defense, but after weeks of psychological warfare from the defending titleholder, it was Namajunas that did the talking in the cage with her second straight victory and sixth by stoppage in her sophomore shot at a world title.
Namajunas maintained her composure as Jedrzejczyk began striking in characteristically high volume early, only for the challenger to drop her with a crisp combination less than two minutes in.
JOANNA GETS DROPPED IN ROUND 1 BY @RoseNamajunas!!!! #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/LbZ5f4Niqj
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2017
The Pole valiantly made it back to her feet, but her doom would soon come, as Namajunas sat her down with a leaping left hand, the ensuing hellfire she rained on Jedrzejczyk leaving the defending champ no choice but to put herself out her misery by tapping at the 3:03 mark.
Jedrzejczyk loses for the first time as a professional and sees her Octagon record fall to 8-1 with the jaw-dropping upset.