Saturday's UFC Fight Night Tampa main event -- Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson -- is in jeopardy.
According to multiple sources, Jedrzejczyk informed the UFC over a week ago that she would not be able to make the strawweight limit of 116 pounds. The UFC offered Waterson the opportunity to fight at an agreed upon catchweight, but Waterson's camp has thus far declined that offer, sources say.
Later Wednesday, Jedrzejczyk disputed claims she said she couldn't make weight.
"Did I miss something, were the weigh-ins today? It's Wednesday," she said. "The weigh-ins are Friday, right? I had a good night's sleep last night. Let's stay calm. I'm focused on my final weight cut. I don't even check the media. I don't check this crazy stuff."
Asked if she would make weight, she said: "I should be 115 or 116 pounds. I will do my best to be on weight on Friday. I will be taking care of my body. My health and my life are the most important things. I will not do anything crazy."
If she misses weight but the fight proceeds, Jedrzejczyk would have to pay Waterson 30 percent of her purse, per the Florida State Boxing Commission. Another option discussed was that the UFC would pay the fine on behalf of Jedrzejczyk because the UFC was notified of her weight issues days ago. The UFC has declined that option so far, and historically doesn't pay a fighter's fine.
While replacing Jedrzejczyk with another opponent has been discussed, the UFC is also considering canceling the fight altogether and bumping up Kron Gracie vs. Cub Swanson to the main event slot.
Other options discussed have been moving the fight to a card in November or having Waterson face Jessica Andrade at UFC 244 on Nov. 2, sources said.
Brazilian outlet Combate first reported the news that the fight was in jeopardy due to Jedrzejczyk's weight cut.
Thus far, no final decision has been made. Both Waterson and Jedrzejczyk are already in Tampa and talks are ongoing, sources say. Jedrzejczyk, the former UFC women's strawweight champion, hasn't competed as a strawweight since July 2018. Her last fight was a December 2018 flyweight title fight against Valentina Shevchenko, which she lost via unanimous decision.
"It's been a while [since I've cut] to strawweight and I'm just getting older," Jedrzejczyk, 32, recently told ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "We can't do the weight cut the same time as last time. Our bodies are very smart. I'm not a natural strawweight. I got to the strawweight division five years ago after I signed with the UFC. It's not natural for me, but I'm doing my best. I always fight two fights. One is before the fight. I'm gonna get there and take care of my business in so many different ways."
Jedrzejczyk was asked Wednesday if the winner of this fight will be next to face strawweight champion Zhang Weili.
"There is no question about that," she said. "Before I signed this agreement, I made sure that my next fight would be for the belt. I feel great."
Information from ESPN's Brett Okamoto was used in this report.