Joanna Jedrzejczyk has always been realistic about the time she has left in the sport.
Even though she was the UFC strawweight champion in the UFC, Jedrzejczyk admitted that she would not be able compete for long. Jedrzejczyk admitted that she wanted to start a family and acknowledged the physical toll of fighting over time.
That said, Jedrzejczyk is feeling rejuvenated after signing a new long-term deal with the UFC, but it’s also possible that will be the last contract she’ll ink before her career is over.
“For sure [it could be my final contract],” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Fighting. It’s a 6-fight deal. But this fight is not going to be my last fight or the second or the third — I feel a second wind.
“I’m turning 35 this year and I never felt so good. Physically, mentally, I’m just happy.”
To be crowned champion and to keep the belt, Jedrzejczyk must make many sacrifices. She leaves home and her family to compete so that she can continue training at American Top Team, Florida.
She wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything, because Jedrzejczyk loves the grind. She is aware of the delicate balance between these two worlds.
“All of the opportunities I have outside of the gym and outside of the octagon, the money I can make isn’t easy because I have to work my ass so hard,” Jedrzejczyk said. “But somehow you need this extra motivation to get back to the octagon.
” I can’t go to the gym and be beaten up for no money or exposure. It has to have something more than the passion and desire that I have for this sport. I feel like I’m still one of the greatest in the strawweight division and I just want to go there and prove that on June 11.”
Despite all her achievements, including being the UFC strawweight champion for the longest time in history, Jedrzejczyk is still struggling to accept her position in the sport. She’s often reminded of the fact that she wasn’t the champion for five years.
As she approaches her return in a rematch against Zhang Weili at UFC 275, Jedrzejczyk is content with all that she’s done, but believes she’s far from finished when it comes to her plans to add more accolades to her resume.
” I used to enjoy being on the move and not sat with my legacy,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Now I approach [it like] the love in my life. My sports legacy is so big and some people are still saying I’m not the champion anymore. Okay, I have been there. I understand my worth. This is amazing.
“This is why I feel so pure going into this camp, and this fight. It’s a place I love. I love American Top Team. I love Dan Lambert. I feel like it is my home. To spend more time with these people, and to fight .”
, I would like to train.
After enduring an 25-minute battle with Zhang last time, in which she was subject to five rounds of 170 strikes, Jedrzjeczyk wants to prevent that type of injury from happening again. That punishment on fight night also came after an intense training camp where she had already pushed her body to the limit before she ever set foot in the UFC octagon.
It all adds up, which is why Jedzrejczyk was so adamant about getting paid her worth for this new contract as she continues to recognize the kind of potential risk she takes each and every time she competes.
” The hard work takes place many weeks prior to the fight,” Jedrzejczyk stated. “The fight is a pleasure, but it’s the hard part as well. Every fight takes something away from us mentally and physically.
“We have to know our value. To protect myself and set new goals, I felt like I was going to win the next battle .”
