Valerie Letourneau Has No Problem With Joanna Jedrzejczyk Joining American Top Team

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Valerie Letourneau (8-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) said she has no problem with UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) joining American Top Team. She lost to Jedrzejczyk at UFC 193, but is now focused on fighting Viviane Pereira (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 206. Here are highlights:

On Jedrzejcyzk joining ATT: “I’m really not a jealous person in any way. Our fight is behind us, we have respect for each other, and I want to train with the best. For me, it’s never been an issue. It would have been an issue if I knew I was going to fight her next or second fight, but that’s not where I’m at right now. I like having her. It’s motivating to see her train.”

On training with the champ: “I’m not thinking of who holds the belt; I’m thinking of the belt. Maybe she’s not going to hold that belt in two, three (fights). Who knows? To me, it’s one fight at a time. I’m not thinking, ‘Am I going to fight her?’ I would fight her, but that’s the only way I’m going to fight someone from my gym is if it’s for the belt. I would never fight my teammate otherwise, but I’m also hoping they open the 125 division, and this is something I have in mind – to fight at 125.”

On cutting down to 115: “I always said, ‘I hope I’m never going to have to do it again,’ but I never said I was not going to (cut to 115) again. I was hoping we were going to open a 125 division and 115 was behind me, but there’s now doubt for me. I’m way too small for 135. I’m not going to be the dummy for the 135ers. I want to compete with the top fighters, and I don’t see myself as a competitive fighter. Yes, I’m hurting my body at 115, but fighting girls that are a lot heavier than you – the hard punches that you take – so during the fight, it’s not much more healthy for you.”