New nickname was not Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s idea

Luckily, Karolina Kowalkiewicz is being cool about it.

When Kowalkiewicz's name is announced in the Octagon this weekend, it will be broken up by her new nickname... 'The Polish Princess.' The new sobriquet came as a surprise to the former strawweight challenger because, apparently, she had no idea that she was being given the new nickname. Kowalkiewicz is one of the most laid back fighters on the UFC roster so she doesn't intend to kick up a fuss about the lack of say she had in the new name. "I don't know why but it's very nice," Kowalkiewicz told MMA Junkie ahead of her clash with Michelle Waterson on Saturday night. "It's not my idea. I don't know [who gave it to me]. I think it was the UFC. "I like it very much. I'm from Poland, I'm very proud to be Polish and every girl wants to be a princess." Since dropping a razor-close decision to Joanna Jędrzejczyk for the UFC's 115lbs title in 2016, Kowalkiewicz has gone 2-2 in the Octagon. The 33-year-old submitted to Claudia Gadelha's rear naked choke in the summer of 2017 but steadied the ship with back to back decisions victories over Felice Herrig and Jodie Esquibel. After suffering the first knockout defeat of his career to Jessica Andrade last September, Kowalkiewicz will be hoping to set up another run at the belt with a win over Waterson this weekend. The sixth-ranked Kowalkiewicz, you might remember, holds a victory over reigning 115lbs queen Rose Namajunas so would be confident if she gets the chance to share the Octagon with 'Thug' again.