Joanna Jedrzejczyk discusses the pride she had in being a UFC fighter following the announcement of her joining the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
In a video package that played during the UFC 299 pay-per-view, Joanna Jędrzejczyk reflected on a fight that occurred earlier in her career, taking on Rosi Sexton in June 2014.
The Polish star remembered how she was advised not to take the fight considering Sexton’s status, having then-recently departed the UFC. Jedrzejczyk , however, went on to knock out Sexton and was signed to the UFC a month later.
10 years since all that happened, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has made a name for herself as the strawweight queen, and it all culminates in her being inducted as part of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
An emotional Jedrzejczyk told ESPN MMA how much she was thankful to the fans, the behind-the-scenes staff of the UFC, and promotional officials for all the work they’ve done alongside her during her time in the Octagon.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk named the third member of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Joanna Jedrzejczyk told Megan Olivi that she makes sure to instil into younger fighters a sense of pride and appreciation for the people around the UFC.
“I have to be honest with you, it was one of my biggest dreams, after becoming a UFC fighter and UFC champion, becoming a Hall of Famer,” Jedrzejczyk said. “My biggest dream just came true. I [wasn’t] ready to fully retire, but I am. I won’t fight anymore. So I need to make some changes in my life, but it’s tough, because I love you guys.”
The Polish native made her UFC debut in July 2014, scoring a unanimous decision over Juliana Lima. Two fights later, she stopped Carla Esparza in the co-main event of UFC 185 to become the second-ever UFC strawweight champion.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk then began her reign of dominance at 115 pounds, defending the title against Jessica Penne, Valerie Letourneau, Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jéssica Andrade.
While Jedrzejczyk ended up losing the title to Rose Namajunas and lost the subsequent rematch, she did score wins over Tecia Torres and Michelle Waterson, as well as fought Valentina Shevchenko for the then-vacant women’s flyweight title at UFC 231.
The end of her career saw her rivalry with current women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang, with the two putting on one of the greatest fights of all time at UFC 248.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk joins Frankie Edgar and Wanderlei Silva as part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during UFC’s 2024 International Fight Week in late June.