The 2024 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony was a big part of this International Fight Week. As is tradition, the management rolled out prime names to be inducted into categories, presenting them on the preceding fight cards. Joanna Jedrzejczyk was the latest addition to the modern wing who touched on the topic of BMF for women ahead of the prestigious honor.
‘Champion’ Jedrzejczyk made the walk as the first female Euro champ and lifelong strawweight standout. The former champion had to hang up her gloves in 2022. This was after her knockout loss to Zhang Weili. Ahead of the Hall of Fame ceremony, Jedrzejczyk admitted she missed competing. Moreover, the only thing that’d increase her return chances would be a women’s BMF belt.
I would love to, but I don’t have a name in my head…I don’t know – whoever. I’m not afraid to fight anybody, that’s the thing. Of course, when they brought my name [BMF], I texted Hunter right away. If they create the BMF for women, I want to be the first. I would come out of my retirement to fight for the BMF belt.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk to Gabriel Gonzalez at UFC X 2024 Radio Row for Cageside Press
Although gimmicky, the BMF belt has risen to new heights after April’s historic pay-per-view card. Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje’s warrior-esque buzzer-beating moment captured what the title means. WMMA, having its silver strap, has gained some traction. During UFC 300’s media day, even Jessica Andrade presented the idea of a women’s BMF belt.
Hardcore names like Weili, Angela Hill, Valentina Shevchenko, and others are prime runners for silver. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, a former five-time defending UFC strawweight champion, had her BMF-esque swinging moments as well. She and Weili went to war for five rounds in the co-main event of UFC 248 in March 2020. Such are the moments that etch along in history.
Rose Namajunas is happy that Joanna Jedrzejczyk joined 2024 HOF
Joanna Jedrzejczyk was a new induction into the modern-era wing of the UFC Hall of Fame just this July. She joins Ronda Rousey as the only other WMMA to stand out on the UFC Hall of Fame list. Attending the UFC 303 event at T-Mobile Arena had her itching for one last dance. While Jedrzejczyk couldn’t help but reminisce, old rival Rose Namajunas did the same.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s HOF credentials have been whirling up a storm (Source: Instagram/X/talksport.com)Consequently, the ‘Thug’ of strawweight dethroned Jedrzejczyk with a shock first-round TKO upset in their title clash at UFC 217. Additionally, as it happens, they summed up some prime rivalry in between. Namajunas also won their immediate rematch by unanimous decision at UFC 223. Despite it all, though, Namajunas has nothing but respect for Jedrzejczyk, whom she looks up to.
I better get in there with her [laughs], That’s super cool, I’m very happy for her. Obviously, I looked up to her. As much as we had our rivalry and things like that, I wish all the best to her. I hope that she’s happy, that she’s happy with her career because it was pretty awesome, and I’ll be happy to see it.
Rose Namajunas via MMA Junkie
After their title fights, Namajunas lost her strap to Jessica Andrade. ‘Thug’ would reclaim gold in back-to-back scraps with Weili. While Rose Namajunas obviously will have her mark at strawweight, she saw her reign end and found a new him at flyweight.
Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) currently faces Tracy Cortez in the UFC Denver headliner on July 13 at Ball Arena. As for Jedrzejczyk, while she is content with retirement, now and then, she finds herself leaning back to her fighting ways. While head litigator/CBO Hunter Campbell jokes that she does not need any more titles, a BMF legacy fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk would be one for ages.
