Joanna Jedrzejczyk looks out into the crowd before stepping foot inside of the octagon at UFC 248.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes she deserves more upon her UFC return
Following over a year of inactivity former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is preparing for a return to active competition in 2022, but she’s also hoping for more from the UFC when she’s back in action. The last time Jedrzejczyk competed was when she came up short for the title at UFC 248 in a split-decision loss to Weili Zhang in one of the most exciting women’s fights of all-time in the UFC’s history.
One of the most respected and accomplished fighters, not just in women’s MMA history, but in the history of the UFC and MMA overall, Jedrzejczyk has been living her best life while being out of competition according to UFC President Dana White. While the division has moved on during her absence and champion Rose Namajunas will meet Zhang in a title fight rematch at UFC 268 in November, Jedrzejczyk is being selective about who she will face next.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, Jedrzejczyk discussed what she would like in her return to competition, and how she feels she deserves more from the UFC. Given her resume, popularity, and personality, Jedrzejczyk says she’s not complaining about where she’s at with the company and feels she offers plenty in selling a fight.
.@joannamma discusses her #UFC return and removal from fighter rankings:
"I'm not complaining — I'm not the champ anymore — but I feel like I deserve a little bit more."
▶️ Watch full interview from #TheMMAHour: https://t.co/YswuOvOKi1 pic.twitter.com/C5dCSGXNiU
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 28, 2021
“I feel like I sell the PPV but I don’t get any [PPV] points any more. I’m not complaining, I’m not the champion anymore but I feel like I deserve a bit more. I will discuss this at the table with Dana, the matchmakers, I feel good, I want to be back with the UFC.”
Acknowledging that she recently spoke to White just a couple of weeks ago, Joanna Jedrzejczyk said she understands why she was removed from the official division rankings but is unbothered by it.
“I understand they have to put me out of the rankings but people make such a big thing about it, but I’m calm, I do not worry about it, there’s nothing to worry about because I will be back in the rankings. Even if I’m going to be the last, it doesn’t matter to me because my next fight is going to be big. Like I said, they have to use me, they want to use me, they know how to use me, my name.”
Later in the interview, Jedrzejczyk went on to mention the three opponents she would like to face in her return: Zhang, Namajunas, and Carla Esparza.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk says the 3 fights she would consider are Rose Namajunas, Zhang Weili or Carla Esparza.#TheMMAHour
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 27, 2021
There’s no word about the immediate future of Jedrzejczyk or when a potential return could take place, but all the former champion is asking for is more compensation as she returns, without the belt she carried for so long.
