Stunning new development after epic UFC bloodbath
Medical suspensions have been handed down in the wake of UFC 248 in Las Vegas over the weekend and it's no surprise to see Joanna Jedrzejczyk given an imposed break from the sport.
Jedrzejczyk stunned fight fans after withstanding a brutal barrage from strawweight champion Zhang Weili in a bout that experts have called the greatest fight in women's UFC history.
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The Polish fighter dished out plenty of her own punishment to the Chinese champ at the T-Mobile Arena but the gruesome aftermath of the bout was clear for all to see.
Fans were left shocked by images that emerged after the fight showing the grotesquely swollen state of Jedrzejczyk's forehead, caused by the sustained hits she absorbed from Zhang.
The Chinese fighter's face was also battered and bruised but Jedrzejczyk looked disfigured from the huge hematoma that formed across her forehead.
Both fighters were admitted to hospital after the epic bout but fortunately escaped serious injury.
However, the UFC announced it's medical suspensions on Wednesday (AEDT), with both fighters set to be sidelined from action for 60 days.
It means that despite the horrific nature of Jedrzejczyk's injuries especially, the Polish fighter could return to the octagon as early as May.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk was just discharged from the hospital, according to her team. No significant injuries, they said. Here she is leaving moments ago. 📷 @gldlx pic.twitter.com/y58z4EjMx5
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 8, 2020
Polish fighter admits swelling was ‘bothering’ her
“You see my swelling? She did great,” Jedrzejczyk said after the fight.
“There was something missing but I felt all the punches and the swelling was bothering me.
“My head was going on and off. Congrats, champ. I’m very happy we had a good fight.”
Zhang won via split decision in a bout that immediately became the front-runner for Fight of the Year and left nearly everyone in attendance standing and roaring in applause.
Zhang Weili (21-1) defends her Strawweight title after she beats Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) in a 5 round split decision that has some people calling it the greatest women's UFC fight ever pic.twitter.com/J94eXMf8FC
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) March 8, 2020
Judges Mike Bell and Derek Cleary had it 48-47 for Zhang, while Eric Colon saw it 48-47 for Jedrzejczyk. No matter whose hand was raised, it was deserved after one of the UFC’s best ever fights.
In comparison, the men's co-main event between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero was a fizzer, with boos ringing out from fans after the former retained his middleweight crown.
UFC boss Dana White was among those to criticise Romero for not forcing the issue against Adesanya, who appeared to do damage his legs in a series of sustained kicks to his Cuban opponent.
Adesanya could face a medical suspension as long as six months after doctors ordered him to undergo x-rays, with April 7 the earliest date he could return.
With agencies
