Joanna Jedrzejczyk announced her retirement from mixed martial arts following a brutal KO loss against Zhang Weili in her UFC return at UFC 275. Widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, Jedrzejczyk is a former UFC Strawweight Champion. She retires with an impressive record of 16 wins and just 5 losses. She made her professional MMA debut in May of 2012.
In a career spanning almost a decade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk shared the UFC Octagon against some of the most notable names in women’s mixed martial arts. Having fought the likes of Valentina Shevchenko, Jessica Andrade, Rose Namajunas, and Zhang Weili among others, Joanna’s legacy in women’s mixed martial arts will forever be remembered.
The multi-time world champion in Muay Thai, representing her homeland of Poland, Jedrzejczyk’s professional Muay Thai and kickboxing record record stands at 27 wins and just three losses.
Why did Joanna Jedrzejczyk retire from mixed martial arts?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk returned to Octagon after more than three years away from the cage in a rematch against Zhang Weili in her last attempt to fight for the gold. In what was a treat for fight fans around the world, Jedrzejczyk dropped her second stoppage loss and her first KO loss as Weili connected a vicious spinning back fist to shut the light out of the former champion.
Joanna Champ, Joanna Queen. Joanna Legend. ❤️
🇵🇱 @JoannaMMA leaves the gloves in the Octagon and calls it a career. Thank you JJ! #UFC275 pic.twitter.com/Smm5D9OIlb
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 12, 2022
Jedrzejczyk announced her retirement in the post-fight Octagon interview following UFC 275 and expressed she doesn’t have the desire to compete anymore.
“I’m turning 35 this year. I want to be a mom, I want to be a businesswoman. I now want all of this to happen. I’ve been training two decades — more than half of my life. I love you guys” the former Champion said in the post-fight Octagon interview.
“UFC, Dana, so sorry, I let you guys down, man!” She also added.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk expressed her desire to be a mom and become a businesswoman as opposed to being a mixed martial artist after having spent almost two-decade in combat sports, and a decade inside the MMA cage..