Karolina Kowalkiewicz sent Felice Herrig into retirement, but had their fortunes been reversed, it’s Kowalkiewicz’s gloves that would have been left in the octagon.
The one-time UFC strawweight champion broke a four-year losing streak with a submission of Herrig in the second round at UFC Vegas 56.. Immediately afterwards, Herrig announced that she had fought for the last time, signaling the end of a 13-year MMA career.
On The MMA Hour on Wednesday, Kowalkiewicz was asked if she herself would have retired had Herrig won.
“Yes,” Kowalkiewicz said, adding that it was not a decision she’d discussed with anyone else. “This was not something I said .”
Kowalkiewicz had hinted at a possible retirement following a loss this past August, a first-round submission to Jessica Penne at UFC 265 that extended Kowalkiewicz’s winless skid to five. Kowalkiewicz had not won a fight since their April 2018. meeting.
She said that she was inspired by her struggle to focus on MMA.
“Yes, I had a really bad moment in that time and I thought maybe it was time to finish with MMA,” Kowalkiewicz said. “But after a few months, after a few weeks when I fought and everything, no, I cannot finish with MMA because I love it. Not yet, not yet. Two [more] years for sure, I want to fight.”
“I did not train for a couple of months,” she said. “I had a break. I didn’t watch MMA. Relax, do your job in Poland and enjoy it .”
When Mick Maynard, UFC matchmaker called Kowalkiewicz and offered her a fight against Herrig again, the veteran Polish fighter knew that it was an opportunity to change. Kowalkiewicz left behind her husband and children to make the decision to move to Florida with American Top Team. The results are impressive.
Following their fight, Kowalkiewicz and Herrig exchanged respectful words.
“I said to her, ‘I’m sorry,'” Kowalkiewicz said. “I am sorry, and I wish your all the best.” She said to me that she truly respected me and she wished me luck with my future battles .”
.
As for how she feels about Herrig’s retirement, Kowalkiewicz kept her thoughts brief.
“Better her than me, what can I say?”
