Joanna Jedrzejczyk unfolds her difficulty in staying retired from MMA.
As the UFC has just celebrated 30 years of business, fight fans have gotten to watch the sport grow exponentially. From the beginning of UFC 1, where fights were barely regulated accordingly, and weight was unrestricted. To the way to the fights we have today, fair regulation and strict weight classes. Over the 3 decades, rules have changed, fighters have come and gone, and legends were made. However, from it’s now 31 years of service, female fighters have only been introduced since 2013. With the first female UFC fight being “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey facing off against Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche. Where Rousey set the mark high for female fighters, as she finished Carmouche in the first round via armbar submission.
In a couple weeks, UFC 300 will be live, with the talent of many great former or current champions. Including the co-main event of the evening, which includes “Magnum” Welli Zhang against fellow Chinese fighter “Nine” Xiaonan Yan. This fight will be for the women’s strawweight championship, which Zhang will be defending for the 2nd time in her current run.
Zhang has been known to face difficult fighters on her road to being, and returning to champ status. Fighters such as Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade, “Thug” Rose Namajunas, and “The Cookie Monster” Carla Esparza. Another great fighter to cross her path was Polish fighter, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Jedrzejczyk was a former havoc in the strawweight division, where she had beaten Esparza at UFC 185 to obtain the belt. Jedrzejczyk then went on to defend the belt 5 consecutive times, solidifying herself as a great women’s fighter and champion. After her second loss to Zhang at UFC 275, Jedrzejczyk decided her UFC reign was over, and announced her retirement.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk Speaks About Her Retirement Decision
After her UFC career, it was later announced at UFC 299 that Jedrzejczyk would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. This put her as only the 2nd female in UFC history to be inducted, along with Rousey. This announcement came as a great surprise to Jedrzejczyk’s attendance at UFC 299. Where she tried to play it cool, but showed high emotion to the news of the induction. Jedrzejczyk had recently talked with Tom Taylor of Bleacher Report, to talk about her induction to the UFC Hall of Fame. Where she speaks about how emotional it was for her, considering she still had thoughts about coming back to the sport.
“That’s why I was crying. Honestly, there is no day I’m not thinking about coming back.” Joanna continues to talk about her retirement decision.” I want to stay loyal and stick to my decision, but it’s really difficult. I am happy, but there is something missing.”
Jedrzejczyk then talks about her recent reminiscing of her UFC reign. “Yesterday I was trying to organize my stuff from my old apartment, and I found so many pictures from back in the day. From my first fight, and from when I won the belt. I was like, gosh, it’s been 10 years since I got to the UFC.”
Jedrzejczyk lastly added a comment that puts a statement on how bad she may want to return. “I deserve to wake up tomorrow and change my mind.”
As a fighter who has defended her belt and fought through many battles, it may be without a doubt she would be welcomed back into the UFC with open arms.
Quotes taken from BjPenn.com
Do you think Jedrzejczyk should come back to the UFC or enjoy her retirement? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
