Polish · Olsztyn, Poland · Born 18 August 1987Pioneering Polish striker who dominated the strawweight division with five consecutive title defences before retiring in 2022.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk built her striking around a background in Muay Thai and kickboxing rather than the wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu most UFC champions come up through, which showed in a fighting style defined by relentless volume and pressure rather than takedowns -- an approach that made her the first Polish fighter and first female European UFC champion when she won the strawweight title in 2015. Her eight consecutive strawweight wins remain a division record, but she's arguably better remembered for a fight she lost: her 2017 title defense against Rose Namajunas is regularly cited among the greatest women's fights in UFC history, a five-round battle that cost her the belt but did more for her reputation than several of her actual title defenses combined. That's a genuinely unusual outcome in combat sports, where losses are rarely remembered as career-defining in a positive sense -- but Jędrzejczyk's willingness to engage in exactly the kind of fight that made her vulnerable is part of what separated her striking-based approach from more cautious champions in the same division.
Former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion, most title defences (5) in division history
How They Played
Jędrzejczyk is renowned for her elite striking abilities, particularly her Muay Thai background which gave her devastating elbows, knees, and precise punching combinations. She utilized exceptional footwork, distance management, and high-volume striking to overwhelm opponents while maintaining strong takedown defense. Her fighting style emphasized technical precision, relentless pace, and the ability to break down opponents with accumulative damage over multiple rounds.
Lasting Impact
Jędrzejczyk established the UFC Women's Strawweight division as one of the most competitive and exciting weight classes through her dominant championship reign and technical excellence. She elevated the profile of women's MMA in Europe and inspired a generation of Polish fighters to pursue mixed martial arts.
Career Honours
- UFC Women's Strawweight Champion 2015-2017
- most consecutive strawweight wins (8)
Polish Athletes