Las Vegas, NV — Former UFC women’s strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk was on hand for UFC 272 over the weekend, and had strong words of encouragement for the victorious Maryna Moroz.
“I think she deserves a double bravo, or respect, for how she’s handling all of this,” Jedrzejczyk said of her American Top Team teammate. “It’s hard. Her family is there in Ukraine, fighting for life honestly. So this girl has done a big thing tonight, so big congrats Maryna, we’re very happy for you.”
Moroz got the win over rival Mariya Agapova on the night, and Jedrzejczyk indicated that being in the building, with a full house of fans, was giving her the itch to return to action.
“After tomorrow will be two years [since] I fought here, and I put on a hell of a performance and Fight of the Year with Weili Zhang,” Jedrzejczyk stated. “Honestly, I can’t wait to do this again.”
It’s Zhang who the former champ believes will be next. “I think that’s very interesting. I think it’s number one— I have number one interest in this fight I think.” Later, Joanna would add “I have three names I want to fight: Rose Namajunas, number one contender Carla Esparza, or Weili Zhang. We put on a hell of a performance, why not do it again?”
In her time away from mixed martial arts, Joanna Jedrzejczyk has mostly been seen through glimpses on social media, living an apparently relaxed, lavish lifestyle when not training. Jedrzejczyk had another way of putting it, however: she’s living “like a monk” at times.
“It’s slower here. I live like a monk, and I’m focused only on myself and training. And I’m a very family [oriented] person. I love being around my family and friends, helping them, being with them, hanging out with them, but training is always my first priority, and they know this. They’ve been supporting me for so many years,” she said of her life in Poland. “But in Florida I have a different life. I do training, I do some things outside the gym, because I like to stay active, even when I’m resting. I love doing things, I have so many hobbies, passions, businesses back home in Poland.”
“People define me by how I look on Instagram, but I used to do that when I was not the champion, and nobody was complaining,” she continued. “I’ve been working since I was a little girl; even when I was the UFC champion, I was working at my parent’s store. Nobody was complaining; when I do more, people are complaining, because people don’t like when people are doing more than they do, because they’re just lazy. But I’m enjoying my life, I’m very happy with what I’ve [achieved] in my life, but I want to reach even bigger goals, and stars, and it’s possible.”
On her time away, Jedrzejczyk added “I needed that break for myself, I’m very happy, I feel strong, and I can’t wait to get back to the octagon and put on another Fight of the Year.”
Watch the full media appearance from Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 272 above.
