Joanna Jędrzejczyk is a retired Polish professional mixed martial artist, Muay Thai fighter, and kickboxer who gained international fame for her dominance in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Born on August 18, 1987, in Olsztyn, Poland, she began her combat sports journey as a teenager, initially focusing on Muay Thai where she built an impressive amateur record before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts (MMA).
Known for her aggressive striking style, technical prowess, and unyielding spirit, Jędrzejczyk became one of the most prominent figures in women’s MMA, earning the nickname “Joanna Champion” during her reign as the UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.
Over her career, she compiled a professional MMA record of 16 wins and 5 losses, with 10 of those wins coming in the UFC.
Beyond fighting, she has expressed aspirations to become a mother and businesswoman, retiring from the sport in 2022 after more than two decades of training.
Siblings
Joanna’s older sister, Ewa, is six years her senior and has been a supportive figure in her life, though Ewa tends to stay out of the public spotlight.
Jędrzejczyk also has a twin sister named Katarzyna, who was born 25 minutes after her and works as an accountant after pursuing higher education.
The sisters maintain a strong relationship, with Jędrzejczyk frequently expressing gratitude for their unwavering support during her career highs and lows.
Career
Jędrzejczyk’s career began in Muay Thai, where she achieved remarkable success as an amateur, winning multiple world and European championships before turning professional in MMA in 2012.
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She quickly rose through the ranks, debuting in the UFC in 2014 and capturing the Women’s Strawweight Championship just a year later by defeating Carla Esparza via TKO in the second round.
Jędrzejczyk defended her title five times, setting a record for the division with victories over fighters like Cláudia Gadelha, Jessica Andrade, and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, showcasing her elite striking and endurance.
Her reign ended in 2017 when she lost the belt to Rose Namajunas, followed by an unsuccessful rematch, prompting a brief move to flyweight where she challenged for the title but fell short against Valentina Shevchenko.
Returning to strawweight, she delivered one of the most memorable fights in UFC history against Zhang Weili in 2020, though she lost by split decision in their rematch two years later, leading to her retirement announcement after the bout.
Throughout her tenure, Jędrzejczyk trained at American Top Team in Florida, relocating from Poland to focus on her evolution as a fighter.
Accolades
In the UFC, Jędrzejczyk became the first Polish champion and the third European UFC titleholder overall, holding the Women’s Strawweight Championship from 2015 to 2017 with a division-record five successful defenses.
Her epic clash with Zhang Weili earned the 2020 UFC Honors Award for President’s Choice Fight of the Year, and she was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2024, recognizing her contributions to the sport over a 10-year professional career.
Jędrzejczyk also received UFC.com awards, including a #9 ranking in 2014, and was honored by various MMA outlets for Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses multiple times.
Her overall impact is reflected in her high-quality performance percentage of 85.7% and her status as a pioneer in women’s MMA.
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