It’s still not easy for Joanna Jedrzejczyk to talk about retirement.
After losing to Zhang Weili in UFC 275,, the former strawweight champion decided to give up her title.
“It’s very emotional for me,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Fighting. “It’s hard. It’s hard sometimes .”
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Despite all the challenges that can come from calling it a job, Jedrzejczyk promised that she would never return to active competition.
Jedrzejczyk is 100% correct in her statement that you are done with the sport, before it is done with your. That played at least some part in the timing of her retirement, even if she’s still physically capable of competing again.
“I always promised myself if I leave this sport, I will leave it forever,” Jedrzejczyk said. It’s difficult, but it’s sometimes hard. Sometimes, I get up in the morning and think, “I’d love to go back.” Why am I doing this?’ That’s the hard part. At the moment, it’s over. I’m very happy.
” I need to stay true to my decisions because so many factors are driving me to this sport, and to keep fighting. But, as I stated, it is important to take care of your health. It doesn’t seem like I have any problems. I’m not having any issues.”
Beyond her long-term health — a factor she cited when she retired — the longest reigning 115-pound champion in UFC history was also ready for a break from the rigors that come along with a fighting lifestyle.
Jedrzejczyk is a great example of how she spent her time in the two homes she has.
” In the last six months, I’ve spent 8 and 10 evenings in my home,” Jedrzejczyk said. This house was my first home two years ago. I moved here this year and I have spent 10 nights there this year. I am happy to be here. Falling asleep and waking up in my bed, and I’m trying to be smart with my money, invest my money in real estate.
“There are some places that I have never been to. This nice apartment in the Baltic Sea area, I’ve slept two nights only. It’s crazy. It’s the most amazing thing. I want to be still and feel connected with my body and see .”
how large it is.
Because she was so successful during her career in the UFC, Jedrzejczyk has been afforded the financial freedom to pick and choose what she wants to do now that she’s no longer planning to compete. Jedrzejczyk has already launched her own supplement company. It isn’t a brand with her name on the box, it’s products that she created and craft.
Jedrzejcyzk has also expressed interest in getting more involved in the business side of MMA and has plans to begin managing fighters.
” I am very thankful and grateful for all the people that I have met during my private and professional life. I learned so much from them,” she said. “I had lots of bad and good experiences. But I want to be one of these managers who is going to take care of an athlete, the fighter. Because they should be always up front.
“The managers should think about the fighters as a first priority, but many times it’s [just] a business. This is what I hate about it. So definitely I will try to do other studies, some seminars, get some lessons, get some advice and I would love to be a manager in the future.”
In addition to starting her own management team, Jedrzejczyk also plans to keep her competitive edge by enjoying another massive adrenaline rush that doesn’t involve her taking punches. An active racing enthusiast, she’ll now have more time to devote to that sport, and she plans on getting behind the wheel a lot more often.
“I have an appointment with my racing team after I return from Vegas,” Jedrzejczyk stated. “I’ll do some training this July, and I may do another race in the near future. Maybe next month. Motorsport is something I am seriously considering. I just can’t wait.
” I’m happy for my sponsors. They don’t need to go away from me. I won’t change [MMA], but I will offer them the chance to grow as a team, and to make it big. That makes me very happy and allows me to expand my brand. I can’t wait to drive these fast cars and go nuts like I used to in the cage.”
Jedrzejczyk plans to remain an ambassador for UFC when she is invited to events, similar to her appearance at International Fight Week Las Vegas. Chances are she’ll be back there again in the near future, because UFC President Dana White has already promised she’ll eventually be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She will be proud to accept the invitation, which she didn’t expect when she signed her first UFC contract eight years ago.
“I will be crying because I will realize that I’m old!” Jedrzejczyk said with a laugh. Jedrzejczyk laughed.
“It’s so nice. It’s unbelievable. This is what I keep saying, even though I may be a mature woman, I still feel like the J.J. of my youth who has just begun. That’s the thing. It means to world to me if I get into the UFC Hall of Fame. It’s great. It’s great because I know that there are so many athletes and so many fighters within the UFC. But the Hall of Fame is extremely short. It would be an honor.”
