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UFC champ falls short of Rousey after stunning upset

Joanna Jedrzejczyk's bid to equal Ronda Rousey's UFC record has fallen short after a stunning upset in her strawweight title fight at UFC 217.

The Polish champion was a heavy favourite going into her bout against American Rose Namajunas at Madison Square Garden.

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Jedrzejczyk was looking to draw level with Rousey's record of six UFC title defences but she was quickly put on the back foot after a brutal opening from Namajunas.

The American challenger hit the Pole with a stinging right counter-attack early in the first round, before both fighters exchanged a flurry of punches.

Namajunas then knocked Jedrzejczyk down to the canvas but wasn't able to keep the champion down for an extended period.

The challenger sensed her opportunity though and after collecting the Pole with another heavy right, she followed her to the canvas with a succession of brutal lefts before Jedrzejczyk was forced to tap out.

Namajunas was overcome with emotional after the victory but remained circumspect about the upset win.

Namajunas pulled off a stunning upset. Pic: Getty
Namajunas pulled off a stunning upset. Pic: Getty

"There's so much crap going on the media, the news, I just want to try and use martial arts to change things," Namajunas said.

"This don't mean nothing man, let's just be good to each other. I know we fight, but this is entertainment."

In the main event, Canadian Georges St-Pierre completed a stunning comeback, beating Michael Bisping by submission to claim the UFC middleweight title after a four-year absence from the octagon.

The men's bantamweight title bout threw up another instant classic as TJ Dillashaw floored Cody Garbrandt halfway through the second to win by knockout and reclaim the belt he lost to Dominick Cruz in January 2016.

with AAP