Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been on a long hiatus from fighting. She last competed in March 2020 in a Fight of the Year contender against then-champion Zhang Weili.

She has been off for 19 months and there has been plenty of frustration and speculation surrounding the former champion. She was even removed from the UFC rankings this week.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk appeared on ‘The MMA Hour‘ Wednesday and discussed everything surrounding her career. She even explains why she's been off for so long and what happened with the rankings.

“They did [tell me]. [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard] called us and said if I’m going to pull out of the fight, they’re going to take me out of the rankings because the girls are complaining,” Joanna Jedrzejczyk said (transcription via MMAFighting.) “I think it’s more about me not fighting. It’s been a while, it’s been 19 months. I agreed to that.”

Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants to come back for something that makes sense. She's not looking to face random women from her division.

“There are so many fights but stupid fights,” Jedrzejczyk said. “But I’m waiting for Rose [Namajunas] and [Zhang] Weili. The winner or I can take even the second place. I just want to put on big fights. Dana [White] knows. Dana is a businessman but Mick, he has a different job and he has to make his own money. I bet he makes money out of making fights. But we have a different agreement with Dana and Dana always backs it up.

“I remember what the UFC told me after the fight that I can take as much time as I can and I will be back to the top fighting the best. So I’m guessing the champion or the No. 1 [contender]. That’s it.”

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been rumoured to be leaving the UFC or fighting in a different sport. The rumor was that she was considering bare-knuckle boxing.

The Polish fighter shut all of that down and said she only sees herself competing in the UFC. She plans on getting back in the cage soon.

“I feel like I deserve a bigger piece of the cake,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I don’t see myself fighting out of the UFC but there are people who are interested in having me, putting big money on the table. It’s big. I’m a UFC soldier.

“I feel like I sell the pay-per-views but I don’t get any points anymore. But I’m not complaining. I’m not the champ anymore but I feel like I deserve a little bit more. I will discuss this at the table with Dana, with the matchmakers, I feel good. I want to be back to the UFC octagon soon.”

UFC 268 will help sort out her future and figure out what her next move is. It's unlikely she gets the next title shot but a rematch could be in the works against either fighter.