Joanna Jedrzejczyk Puts a Beating on Jessica Penne, Stops Her in Third to Retain UFC Title

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For a minute or so, the main event of UFC Fight Night “Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne” was competitive.

Jessica Penne was holding her own against the undefeated UFC strawweight champion, but once Joanna Jedrzejczyk found a rhythm, there was nothing the American could do.

Jedrzejczyk took over the battle at the midway point of the opening frame and she only grew stronger as the fight wore on. Jedrzejczyk scattered strikes from every angle imaginable, mixing in an unhealthy dose of kicks, punches and elbows, busting up Penne’s face in the process.

Penne was given a meaty hematoma above her right eye late in the first, the first of ills to come her way. When Jedrzejczyk started unloading her vicious striking repertoire, Penne was covered in blood. A wicked elbow from the UFC’s only current European champion caused Penne’s nose to explode in the second, covering both in blood. The Pole never stopped destroying Penne’s face and body, and she continued to suck the life out of her will.

Jedrzejczyk defended most of Penne’s takedown attempts and refused to enter her challenger’s guard whenever she was begged to test it. Jedrzejczyk repeatedly forced the Californian to stand back up to inflict more and more punishment and she continued to do so until referee Marc Goddard finally stopped the mugging, igniting the capacity crowd inside the O2 World in Berlin.

The official end came at the 4:22 mark of the third stanza, allowing Jedrzejczyk to retain her title and improve to 10-0. Immediately after her triumph -- while the battered Penne was tended to -- Jedrzejczyk shouted the question of who is next to try to defeat her.

“She is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and she is supposed to be the best in the strawweight division,” Jedrzejczyk said after the fight. “No. I’m going to be a champion for a while. Nobody is gonna take this title away from me.”

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Kawajiri Hands Siver Loss

Popular German-based contender Dennis Siver was hoping to enjoy a spectacular win in front of his hometown fans. But getting such a win over the exceptionally durable Tatsuya Kawajiri proved much more difficult than expected as the Japanese fighter was the better man.

Siver won the first round of their featherweight contest, but once Kawajiri made the adjustments, there was no turning back. Kawajiri was able to drag Siver to the mat and grind him out for the final two frames of the fight. Kawajiri’s strength was immense and he fended off the few submission attempts his opponent threw his way.

Kawajiri was awarded the unanimous decision win via tallies of 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards. The fight wound up being one decided by a few minor mistakes and Kawajiri capitalized when he saw them. Kawajiri bounced back from a loss to perennial tough guy Clay Guida a year ago, while the loss is the second in a row for Siver.

Sobotta Submits Kennedy in First

In his second stint in the UFC career of Peter Sobotta, so far he’s looked sensational.

It was no different Saturday as he ran through Steve Kennedy and scored an opening round submission win. After trading moderate blows on the feet, Sobotta scored a trip takedown and after a triangle, the German fighter was able to sink in a rear-naked choke. Kennedy couldn’t fend it off and eventually was forced to tap out. The fight officially ended at 2:57 of the first, awarding the welterweight contender his seventh straight win and second in a row inside the Octagon.

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Hein’s Movement Befuddles Sajewski

Lightweight contender Nick Hein was able to bounce back from his loss to James Vick last November with a unanimous decision win over Poland’s Lukasz Sajewski. Hein never truly had his opponent in serious peril during their three rounds of action, but he was able to confuse and frustrate the unbeaten “wookie” throughout.

Hein darted in and out and side-to-side, pecking away with jabs and counters, disallowing Sajewski to get into any sort of rhythm. With the seconds ticking away in the fight, Sajewski tried to pull off a come-from-behind shocker, but Hein negated it.

In the end, Hein was too smooth and effective and won by the margin of 30-27 on all three official scorecards.