The former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion will be making her return next year.
At UFC 248, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang had one of the best title fights of 2020 as both women had one hell of a five-round contest. Following the bout, many were excited about the next step for both the champion and challenger; however, the pandemic changed the course of the entire world.
Unfortunately for Jedrzejczyk, she’s been unable to travel back into the states due to the current situation and the 33-year-old revealed during an interview with Laura Sanko that since she can’t train with American Top Team then she won’t be able to fight until sometime next year (Transcript courtesy of MMA Fighting):
“Because of the COVID situation, somehow, I can’t go back to the states,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I don’t see myself preparing in Poland or somewhere outside of American Top Team without Mikey Brown, Katel Kubis, American Top Team in general. I love these people. They are my team. I think I will be back next year.”
Despite being held back because of the coronavirus situation, Jedrzejcyzk continues to train every day as the strawweight is aiming to make a return in January 2021:
“I was planning to get back to the states in the middle of this year, October, the end of this year but probably it’s going to be January. I’m training. I’m training every single day. I train everyday. I do lots of cardio, lots of jiu-jitsu, lots of boxing. So I keep on rolling every single day and hustling everyday.”
With Jedrzejcyzk expecting to make her return, this shuts down the rumors that the former strawweight champion had decided to hang up the gloves for good. While Jedrzejcyzk never announced her retirement from the sport, it didn’t stop people from speculating that she was done with MMA:
“I’m living my best life,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I’m living my dream. As you know, I was always busy and I’m very happy. I’m still fighting. I’m not retired. So many people on my social media they’re commentating that I’m retired, they’re asking but I’m not. I’m just taking my time.”