Joanna Jedrzejczyk's striking, takedown defense leads her to strawweight gold

From the moment Joanna Jedrzejczyk earned a title shot against UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza, she was adamant that she would lift the belt.

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She was true to her word Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, routing Esparza with an extraordinary performance in which Esparza was never in the fight. A former Muay Thai champion, Jedrzejczyk's striking accuracy and takedown defense led to an easy, second-round stoppage of Esparza in the co-main event of UFC 185.

Referee Don Turnage jumped in to stop the bout at 4:17 of the second, but it was only a matter of time before it ended. Esparza had no answers, as Jedrzejczyk landed huge shots repeatedly and easily fended off the ex-champion's takedown defense.

"I cannot believe it," Jedrzejczyk said. "I have worked so hard. I said I was going to do it and I did it. I was preparing every day 100 percent and that's why I'm here."

A native of Poland, Jedrzejczyk became only the third European champion in UFC history, joining ex-heavyweight champions Bas Rutten and Andrei Arlovski.

She earned her title shot with a disputed decision in December over Brazilian Claudia Gadelha. But there was nothing disputed about Saturday's outcome.

Esparza, who seemed tense as she waited for the start of the bout, knew she'd have to get the fight to the ground. Jedrzejczyk had a five-inch height advantage and a three-inch edge in reach, as well as vastly more refined striking skills. Esparza tried desperately to get inside and then take Jedrzejczyk down.

But Jedrzejczyk was able to fight off all but one of Esparza's takedown attempts. When Esparza began to tire, Jedrzejczyk's striking took over and she pulled away.

"I've been training so hard," she said. "No one believed in my grappling, but I'm in the UFC and I'm a complete MMA fighter. Nobody is going to take this belt from me."

Anyone who is going to take it is going to have to be a very good, very well prepared fighter.

Esparza certainly didn't have any answers, and she gave all credit to Jedrzejczyk.

"I fought my fight and I lost tonight," Esparza said. "She did a great job."

That she did.