Karolina Kowalkiewicz came as close as anyone in dethroning current women’s strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk when the two Poles faced at UFC 205 in New York City last November. 31-year-old Kowalkiewicz (10-1) withstood the the champion’s venomous barrage on the feet for the majority of the fight, even getting the better of the striking exchanges towards the end of the fight, but was ultimately judged to have lost the bout.
The Pole’s path back to a title shot has been laid out by UFC brass who have today announced a clash between Kowalkiewicz and former title challenger Claudia Gadelha which will take place at UFC 212 on June 3rd at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Gadelha is unbeaten in the UFC save for two decision losses of her own to Jedrzejczyk and the winner of their bout this summer will likely have a big say in determining the next challenger to Jedrzejczyk’s 115-pound title.
What a fight! 🇵🇱 @KarolinaMMA meets @ClaudiaGadelha_ 🇧🇷 at #UFC212!! pic.twitter.com/21iieA9BvQ
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 27, 2017
UFC 212 is beginning to shape up as one of the organisation’s ‘tentpole’ summer events. As it stands, the card will be headlined by the long-awaited featherweight title match between José Aldo and Max Holloway and further bouts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
