Joanna Jędrzejczyk flicks switch on striking clinic for the ages as she comes from behind to retain title

And still... but not without resistance.

In the most hostile grudge match of international fight week, Joanna Jędrzejczyk retained her UFC strawweight title in tireless style after a five round war with rival Claudia Gadelha on Friday night. The Polish champion was forced to come from behind to get her hand raised, dropping the first two rounds to Gadelha's pressure and explosive grappling.

No. Time. Wasted. @ClaudiaGadelha_ drops the champion seconds in!!!!! #TUFFinale https://t.co/wMgmygMce7

— #TUFFinale (@ufc) July 9, 2016

Jędrzejczyk turned it on in round three though as she shook the lactic acid from her arms and started finding a home for her laser-guided jab. As is her tendency, flurries followed the opening strike and bit by bit, Gadelha wore out.

What a combo by @JoannaMMA! What a fight! What a performance! Why are my hands so sweaty?!?! https://t.co/ixdz9yKtwL — #TUFFinale (@ufc) July 9, 2016

Jędrzejczyk upped her output considerably in the final two rounds and outworked her Brazilian foe to a unanimous nod on the scorecards, 18 months since taking a split decision from Gadelha. And there were very few people left unimpressed by the cardio-driven gut check from the champion. https://twitter.com/MightyMouseUFC/status/751646873404907520 https://twitter.com/TWooodley/status/751648481891192832 https://twitter.com/CarlaEsparza1/status/751647363458932736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/JohnDodsonMMA/status/751647025972670464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/EliasTheodorou/status/751646936592179200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/JanBlachowicz/status/751646700649996288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/JamesVickMMA/status/751646577136066560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/ThiagoSilva_MMA/status/751646554365136896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/LiLHeathenMMA/status/751645495131377664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/HollywoodCase/status/751644501395976192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/NeilMagny/status/751643524001476608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/John_Kavanagh/status/751644961632755712 https://twitter.com/FunkMaster_UFC/status/751642738039201792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw