Miami, FL — Scottish flyweight Joanne Wood finished out her career in style on Saturday at UFC 299, landing a stunning spinning back first during the third round in a rematch with Maryna Moroz that, while not a finishing blow, likely secured her the fight.
Wood (17-8) overcame early adversity, having spent the entire first round on her back, to battle it out in the second and third, claiming a split decision win and avenging an early career loss in the process.
After the win, she told Cageside Press that the moment that stood out in her career was the one she was still experiencing, her retirement win.
“I feel like this moment probably, because I’m living it right now, and happy. Just this moment right here, it feels pretty good,” replied Wood.
The UFC has made the U.K. an annual destination the past few years, though it has yet to return to Wood’s native Scotland. Still, she admitted that retiring back home (she now resides in Las Vegas with husband and Syndicate MMA head coach John Wood) was a consideration.
“Yeah for sure. I was always waiting for that Scottish call. If they got back to Scotland, I was for sure going to be on that card. But I don’t know if that’s going to happen any time soon. Would I come out of retirement to go there? Luckily I don’t think they’re going there any time soon. But you know, who knows with the UFC. I’m probably going to be the last one to know if that happens. But this is it. Finally done. I’ll be there watching.”
Speaking with the media backstage at the Kaseya Center, Wood also addressed taking a fight with Jennifer Maia after her title shot with Valentina Shevchenko fell through in 2020. Wood lost the bout, and missed out on her title shot as a result.
“When the UFC calls for a fight, you usually take it as a fighter. So looking back, should I not have took the fight? Obviously not, because that didn’t go my way, and also I took really not well afterwards. So looking back, but that’s hindsight. It’s in the past now, it’s all got me to this moment.”
Wood also gave her advice for up-and-coming fighters. “What are you thinking?!” she joked, before adding “just get on that roller coaster and put your hands high and scream, and enjoy every second of it. It’s just up and down, up and down. Just enjoy every moment, and just never give up.”
Watch the full UFC 299 post-fight press conference with Joanne Wood above.
