Joanna Jedrzejczyk may have ended her fighting career with a knockout loss in UFC 275, but she can definitely hold her head high after everything she has done for the sport and for her peers.
Jedrzejczyk suffered a knockout blow at the hands of Zhang Weili on Saturday night in their rematch for what many consider as the greatest women's MMA fight of all time in 2020. While even us thought it would be a decision, Weili got the better of the 34-year-old Jedrzejczyk with a backfist hit.
https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/1535825273656156160
After Joanna Jedrzejczyk announced her retirement following the UFC 275 fight, several MMA personalities, including Dustin Poirier, Kamaru Usman and Daniel Cormier, paid tribute to the MMA legend and highlighted her impact to women's sport.
Thank you @joannamma 🙏 a champion a legend.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 12, 2022
Congratulations @joannamma on your retirement #alwaysachamp #UFC275
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) June 12, 2022
Thank you @joannamma! #UFC275
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 12, 2022
Jedrzejczyk finished her career with a 16-5 record. She was a longtime UFC women's strawweight title holder, retaining the belt from 2015 to 2017–highlighted by five title defenses, which remains the best in the history of the division, per ESPN.
She is tied with Carla Esparza for the most wins in UFC women's strawweight with 10, as well as most title fights (nine) and title victories (six).
UFC president Dana White also thanked and honored Jedrzejczyk for a highly successful and legendary career, sharing that “she was such a huge part of the growth of women’s MMA.”
Here are the other reactions from MMA Twitter on Jedrzejczyk's retirement after UFC 275:
That was an honor to be one of the witness your GREAT career @joannamma
Thank you#UFC275
— Charles 'DoBronxs' Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) June 12, 2022
JJ the women’s GOAT 🐐 #UFC275
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 12, 2022
@joannamma my favorite female fighter of all time. My heart is so sad right now. Thank you for everything Joanna Champion, you made our sport better. Crying with you tonight #ufc275
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) June 12, 2022
Thank you @joannamma #UFC275
— tim means (@MeansTim) June 12, 2022
Thank you, JJ!
We love you❤#UFC275— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) June 12, 2022
Hell of a career. Shout out to JJ 🙌🏿
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) June 12, 2022
Ohh nooo 😢🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 12, 2022
JJ is hands down one of the greatest to ever live!!! Thank you for what you’ve given to the sport!!!#UFC275 #fairwell
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) June 12, 2022
Amazing career @joannamma thank you for all the fun fights, always a fan! Wishing you well in this next chapter in your life #ufc275
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) June 12, 2022