(Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk)

The other day I was just wondering to myself, “When we will see ‘Joanna Champion’ back in the cage?” Well, looks like my question is almost answered.

A Strawweight Championship bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and #3 ranked Rose Namajunas is in talks for UFC 217 in New York City on Nov 4. MMA Today reported the news Friday.

Jedrzejczyk (13-0) won the title from former champion Carla Esparza in her first defense. Since then the 115-pound champ has been on a tear through the division, maintaining her undefeated record. Joanna most recently defeated Jessica Andrade at UFC 211 in May via unanimous decision.

Namajunas (6-3) lost her first title shot to the inaugural champion Esparza. The two Ultimate Fighter rivals competed at the shows finale in 2015 to win the first ever Strawweight belt in the UFC. Rose is coming off a second round submission victory over Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night: Johnson vs. Reis in April.

This has been a long anticipated bout since Namajunas was on her first shot to the title in the summer of 2016. Karolina Kowalkiewicz defeated her at UFC 201 in July of 2016 via split decision. Kowalkiewicz went on to face Joanna at UFC 205, the UFC’s first visit to the Big Apple. She was defeated by the champ via unanimous decision.

UFC 217

This is the third title fight rumored to take place at the world famous Madison Square Garden that evening. Other title bouts include Middleweight champion Michael Bisping vs. Georges St. Pierre and Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw.