Joanna Jêdrzejczyk already knows what she will do after her career in the UFC. “I am into this”

Krzysztof Smajek: Does Joanna Jędrzejczyk feel that she has to prove something to someone?

Joanna Jędrzejczyk: No. Neither to myself nor to anyone else. What I twisted in was really thick, but the last fight I had was almost two years ago and now I just want to go back. I feel a second youth and even more fire for training. Recently, who has been a great inspiration to me, she told me that she was out of the sport for two years due to an injury, and later won gold in. “Fly and reach for even greater titles” – Anita encouraged me. She motivated me even more. I believe that I will reach the top again.

Why did you take such a long break from fighting in the UFC?

– There is no one reason. There was definitely a concern for health as the last fight with Weili Zhang was quite tough in terms of injuries. They were superficial, though they looked disgusting. I have repeated head tests and fortunately everything is fine. The pandemic also had an impact on the break. There were problems with traveling, the galas were held without fans, and I don’t like to fight in front of empty stands. But I also wanted to stop and have time for myself and my relatives. For 18 years of my career, I did not close various matters and this influenced my private and professional life.

And you didn’t feel burned out?

– There was no such thing. I enjoy my job all the time. I was away for two years, but at the time, I wasn’t lying on the couch. These two years passed like two months. During this time, I did a lot of things. I finished the third field of study, opened new branches of sponsorship, partnership and business activities. A line of my fruit juicers and sports equipment was created. I was a juror in the “Dance, dance, dance” program.

Was it time for training?

– I have been training very hard for several months. Lots of people tell me to only take up sports, but I have always combined sports with other jobs. When I became the UFC Champion, I worked in a greengrocer. A lot of people don’t know or remember it. I worked in a grocery store and did two workouts a day. I’ve always had a lot on my mind. It can all be reconciled, it is a matter of good time management.

When you stood in front of the mirror after the fight with Zhang, didn’t you think about ending your career?

– There were no such thoughts, but the moment came for reflection and questions: “What for? Why? “But how could I end my career after fighting for a year in the MMA world? I lost to Zhang, but at the same time felt that I had won the UFC invisible belt. It gave me a kick. One fan recently wrote to me that while everyone said that instead of becoming a model “I should be back a long time ago, he understands and praises my decision to take a break. He understood that I needed a rest. I am grateful to him for these words, because he looked at me differently from everyone else.”

Did no one from the UFC threaten you with the termination of your contract in your absence?

– I have such a status that they could not scare me. They are waiting for my return. The UFC chief said after the fight with Zhang that I can rest as much as I want. Of course, the UFC matchmakers put some pressure and called several times with different offers. But I’m at such a stage in my life and career that I don’t have to do anything under pressure. They threw me out of the ranking, but that’s not a problem, because I will come back to it anyway. Besides, the rankings do not fight.

You are flying to the USA soon to start training for the American Top Team. Do you already know the date of the fight and the name of your opponent?

– I don’t know anything yet, but I’m going to train and focus only on sports. Negotiations are ongoing and it is very likely that Weili Zhang will be my next opponent. Such a proposal had already been made. I know Waili has big problems going back to the US so it could drag on over time. I wanted to fight at the end of March, but after such a long break, entering the training camp is quite difficult and very exploiting for the body. Physically and mentally. Together with the staff we made a decision that we would probably delay the preparations. My return from the USA is planned for the beginning of April, but my stay may be extended. If the fight is in June or July, I will come home for 2-3 weeks, meet my family and come back to the USA. I want to prepare myself to give the fight of the year again.

I can see that after two years of break your hunger to fight is enormous.

– It’s good that you talk about it, because in MMA the hunger to fight is one of the most important elements in achieving your goals. I feel this hunger. When we achieve the highest goals, the body and psyche are saturated with it. Therefore, we need other incentives. Women’s MMA in the UFC is constantly evolving, the players are getting better and better, so my bar goes up too. For the first time in a long time, I am not going to the United States with the attitude that I will have to spend several months there. Instead, it’s “Wow!”. I can’t wait to get on the mat with the American Top Team. The next two months will show if everything works for me at the highest level. I believe it will.

Martin Lewandowski told me in an interview that he talked to you about the fight in KSW. Something’s up?

– There has been a lot of speculation that we are after the word and that my fight with Karolina Kowalkiewicz in. I confirm, there was an inquiry regarding my engagement in KSW. But it’s a long way off because I don’t see myself fighting outside of the UFC. There I would like to end my career and go to the Hall of Fame. I think I can deserve it. If I end my career, it is in order to rest, take care of my private life, family and fulfill myself in other areas.

So the chances that we will see you in KSW are negligible?

“It may sound silly, but it all comes at a price.” I cannot bow my head and give a fight at the National Stadium just to make the fans happy. Of course I would like to fight on. Perhaps the UFC will come back to Poland and we will do such a fight. I’m at such a stage in my career that I weigh it all. Toil and sacrifice come at a price. Hopefully I won’t be making decisions about fights just to earn money. If I end my career in the UFC and then have to fight in the KSW, something must appear that will give me an impetus to act. My trainer Mike Brown says that world-class players need incentives. This must be followed by salary and exposure. And I agree with him.

And such a stimulus would not be for you to fight in front of your own audience?

– There has to be a salary for this. I know a lot of people won’t like what I said, but everyone gets paid for their work. I’ve already fought for the idea and the fans. I’m still fighting for them, don’t let anybody get it wrong, but money has to follow. I fought for the idea for 12 years. I was only making enough money to support myself. I also often contributed to it. I will not go to KSW for the sake of the fight.

How long do you want to fight?

– This is not a comeback for a fight or two. Before the duel with Zhang, the information came from somewhere that if I get the belt, I will end my career. Later, there were voices that that was why the UFC did not let me win this fight. But I don’t believe in conspiracy theories. For now, I don’t want to plan to end my career. I will definitely fight less, but I want to move on. I have a contract with the UFC for one more fight.

Many athletes are unable to retire. Are you not afraid of this moment? That someday it will have to be said: that’s enough, it’s over.

– Recently, I talked about this with my manager from the USA. Jennifer asked me if this was a good time to end my career. “Girl, you will always be remembered by fans as a competitor who was at the top” – I heard from her. Jennifer added that she would like to see me in the Octagon again, but suggested that maybe I should do something else. It is very difficult for athletes to end their careers. I always believed that I would find this moment and I hope I will. I don’t think about it yet.

Fighters in martial arts end their careers, only to come back in a moment. Tomasz Adamek returns to the ring out of boredom.

– I’m not bored. I am also not worried about the lack of adrenaline, because I have been engrossed in car rallies recently. I have my rally debut behind me. In Drawsko I did over 200 stage kilometers. I wanted to see if it was for me and I got into it. I am very excited about rallies. I already have an amateur license, I want to make an international one. This year I am planning several starts. In the future, I would like to go to. I hope to find the resources and partners for global racing success.

In the book “Black on the White” you wrote a lot about problems in your private life, your ex-partner. Have you got these things together yet?

– I really don’t like talking about it. I am now trying to protect this area of ​​life. But in the book, I wanted to give people authenticity. I believe that the truth will always win and defend itself. I wanted to show that I am not just JJ from the Internet or TV screen, who plays in commercials and has an idyllic life. It is not so. Everyday life is about ups and downs. Why should I be silent about it, since it had a big impact on my private and professional life. In the first book, I introduced myself and talked about cool years, about the road to success. In the second, I wanted to show that I do not hide my ineptitude and the fact that I am only a woman. I wanted to deliver the truth to people. I didn’t write this book for the money. I do not even know what the remuneration was for it, because the funds were donated to charity.

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