Polish strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz made quite an impression on Saturday, upsetting Randa Markos with a good performance in her UFC debut at UFC on Fox 17.
She’s following in the footsteps of current divisional Champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and at the post-fight press conference for the event she commented on the champ and wanting that matchup in the future.
“I know her. She’s really amazing,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I respect her very much. In Poland, she’s very popular. But one day I hope I will fight with her because she’s the best, and I want to fight with the best.”
Kowalkiewicz’s victory on Saturday night moved her perfect record to 8-0, and at 30-years-old she’ll be looking to make the leap into contention quickly.
Penick’s Analysis: The strawweight division has quite the mixture of talent at the moment young and old(er). Rose Namajunas represented the former with her win over Paige VanZant last week, and while Kowalkiewicz doesn’t have a ton of MMA fights under her, she looked great against Markos and should get a step up soon. A few wins in the field could earn her a shot at Jedrzejczyk, provided her countrywoman holds onto the title, and that could be a great thing for them and their country in the near future. She’s got plenty of work to do of course, but Saturday was a great start.
[Photo (c) Reinhold Matay via USA Today Sports]
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