Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk announces her retirement from MMA after a devastating loss to Zhang Weili. Read more about her impressive career and the impact she made in the sport.
Former strawweight world champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has officially announced her retirement from mixed martial arts. The decision comes after a devastating second-round knockout loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 275. Despite considering a comeback, Jedrzejczyk’s plans were derailed by a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Jedrzejczyk leaves behind an impressive legacy in the sport, with a record of 10-5 under the UFC banner and 16-5 overall. She captured the strawweight title and successfully defended it five times, establishing herself as one of the division’s most dominant fighters.
In addition to her accomplishments inside the Octagon, Jedrzejczyk holds the distinction of being the first-ever Polish world champion in the UFC. She is also a three-time recipient of the Fight of the Night award.
One of the highlights of Jedrzejczyk’s career was her epic battle against Zhang Weili in 2020. The fight, which many consider to be one of the greatest in women’s MMA history, went the distance and ended in a closely-contested split decision victory for Zhang at UFC 248.
Alongside Jedrzejczyk, middleweight standout Ian Heinisch has also announced his departure from MMA. After seven fights in the UFC, Heinisch has decided to take a break from the sport to focus on his physical well-being. With a record of 14-5 and a 3-4 record inside the Octagon, Heinisch hopes that time away will allow him to return stronger than ever.
While there is always a possibility of a comeback for both Jedrzejczyk and Heinisch, for now, the strawweight division will have to move forward without its Polish princess.
