UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk sucessfully defended her crown with a dominant third-round TKO victory at UFC Berlin.
Jedrzejczyk used her Muay Thai to neutralize the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling of the #3-ranked Penne, a former Invicta FC champion.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Jedrzejczyk and Penne collected Fight-of-the-Night honours, while Mairbek Taisumov and Arnold Allen snagged performances-of-the-night. All fighters earned an additional $50,000 USD bonus.
MMA Crossfire Expert Kenai Andrews checks in.
NICK HEINZ VS LUKASZ SAJEWSKI
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: (R-L) Nick Hein of Germany punches Lukasz Sajewski of Poland in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the O2 World on June 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)WINNER: NICK HEIN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NICK HEIN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Andrews: As expected, the footwork and strikes of Hein were enough to befuddle Sajewski for most of the three rounds. A good win for Hein.
PETER SOBOTTA VS STEVEN KENNEDY
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: (R-L) Peter Sobotta of Germany submits Steve Kennedy of Australia in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the O2 World on June 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)WINNER: PETER SOBOTTA VIA SUBMISSION (RNC)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: PETER SOBOTTA VIA SUBMISSION 2:57 R1
Andrews: Sobotta’s experience made all the difference, as he took advantage of Kenendy’s tentativeness. Sobotta took the fight to the ground, moved into the the choke postion and cranked out another rear-naked. Good win for the hometown hero.
#12 DENNIS SIVER VS #15 TATSUYA KAWAJIRI
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: (L-R) Dennis Siver of Germany punches Tatsuya Kawajiri of Japan in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the O2 World on June 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)WINNER: TATSUYA KAWAJIRI VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TATSUYA KAWAJIRI VIA SPLIT-DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrews: Kawajiri landed a few takedowns and established some control, but did not do much damage. Siver landed a few strikes but spent too much time defending Kawajiri’s takedowns. This was a close fight, but Siver’s inability to land anything cleanly was the difference.
MAIN EVENT
JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK VS #3 JESSICA PENNE
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: (L-R) Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland punches Jessica Penne of the United States in their women’s strawweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the O2 World on June 20, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)WINNER: JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK VIA TKO R3 4:22
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOANNA JEDRZEJZYK VIA TKO
Andrews: As expected, Penne showed her toughness and a willingness to stand and absorb shots to get the takedown, but it was not enough. Joanna picked her apart starting from the 10-8 second round onwards. Outstanding win and a message-sending one to the other contenders in the strawweight division.
