Jedrzejczyk on patented staredown: 'I want to see the fear'
For Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the battle is often won before she steps in the Octagon.
The UFC strawweight champ has made a habit of staring daggers into her opponents during pre-fight media rounds and weigh-ins, and as she recently told FOX Sports' Damon Martin, her displays of gamesmanship are meant to sniff out her opponent's jitters.
"I like to look deep into my opponent’s eyes, I want to look into the soul, I want to see the fear," Jedrzejczyk said.
The 29-year-old's logic echoes that of the Diaz brothers in that it boils down to one simple truth: she's in the fight business. When you're getting paid to sock people in the face - and ideally, end their night early - you needn't go to the trouble of veiling your motives with handshakes.
"The thing is there is no option that you’re going to step back or you’re going to show the fear. There is no chance and no time for it. You must show to your opponents that you are the toughest chick or guy on the planet. You must show there is no more playing. We throw hard cards and we’re going to play a hard game tomorrow after the weigh-ins at the day of the fight."
Jedrzejczyk's penchant for psychological warfare has produced must-see television, and while it's proven instrumental in building her fan base, she maintains it's been equally vital to her success in the cage. One glance at her unblemished record would make it hard to argue otherwise, as her four successful title defenses stand as the second-longest reign among active UFC champions.
"I like the staredowns. I never plan it but I know people like it and I like to share with my fans. Sometimes they ask why I didn’t go down in my last staredown or I didn’t do this or that but like I said, it’s all about this day. Everyday is different.
"I know that people see me as a bully person sometimes but I’m not a bully person. But I take my business very serious and I am a hard worker and that’s why I’m so tough during the fight week or the fight. This is me, Joanna the champion."
"Joanna Champion" takes on her fifth challenger, Jessica Andrade, in the co-main event of UFC 211 on May 13.