ABU DHABI – Joanna Jedrzejczyk is grateful UFC president Dana White plans to put her in the UFC Hall of Fame, but she’s not rushing to get enshrined.
Jedrzejczyk (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC), a former longtime UFC strawweight champion, retired from MMA competition in June following a knockout loss to Zhang Weili in their anticipated rematch at UFC 275.
Shortly after she hung up the gloves, White revealed Jedrzejczyk eventually will join Ronda Rousey as the second female in history to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. When that’s going to happen remains to be seen, but Jedrzejczyk said she’s not in a hurry.
“I feel so young and I feel like I could be fighting because the last camp was really the best camp of my life,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Junkie. “It’s hard. I wanted to be the UFC champion one more time – not the Hall of Famer … not the retired old lady. It will be an honor. But we will see. Maybe they will surprise me one day, but I don’t think I’m ready to be a grandma.”
At 35, Jedrzejczyk’s combat sports career lasted nearly two decades. She is one of the trailblazers of women’s MMA and put the 115-pound division on the map with a record five title defenses.
Prior to the rematch with Weili, it had been more than two years since Jedrzejczyk fought. She said she wasn’t expecting to walk away when she did, but at the time felt like it was the correct choice. Will that last forever, though? She said she can’t make any guarantees just yet.
“I thought that I was going fight more because before my last fight I signed a new deal with UFC for six fights,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I feel like it was the right decision for that moment. It isn’t easy. I always wanted to retire on my rules. I could keep doing this. I’m healthy and I have said that I want to be a businesswoman and be a mom, because the last 19 years I’ve been traveling, training and working so hard I had no personal life. I used to say I was sacrificing, but no – I’m investing. Now I’m enjoying. We’ll see. I don’t like to do things halfway. I always go 100 percent. We will see. But being a Hall of Famer, it’s a big dream – same as being UFC champion.”
