Media Joanna Jedrzejczyk's retirement didn't surprise UFC champ Carla Esparza, who would've loved rematch

[KazDibiase]

Would UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza have welcomed a rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk? Sure. Is Esparza surprised that won’t happen now after Jedrzejczyk retired? She’s not.

Jedrzejczyk (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) announced her decision to call it a career earlier this month at UFC 275 after she was knocked out by Zhang Weili in her return to the octagon from a more than two-year absence. As a result, Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to defend her title next against former champ Weili.

“I don’t think I was really that surprised,” Esparza told MMA Junkie of Jedrzejczyk’s retirement. “If someone’s gonna sit out for two years and be on somewhat of a losing streak, although she has fought the highest competition, I think for her, just judging on what I always heard her say, she wants to be the best, she wants to be a champion. With losing that fight, I think it was gonna be a far road back, and I can see why she walked away from it.”

A win for Jedrzejczyk would’ve given Esparza the opportunity to avenge her loss in March 2015 when Jedrzejczyk TKO’d Esparza in the second round to take the title from her, ending her first reign without a defense.

Esparza, 34, said it would’ve been nice to try and get that one back, but she’s not shocked it won’t happen.

“There’s always a disappointment. But I mean, doing it this long, so many people that I’ve fought have stepped away from the sport. It just kind of comes with being in the sport this many years,” Esparza said. “I’ve kind of accepted you’re not always gonna get that rematch chance. … I would’ve loved to have had that opportunity, because I feel that I’ve grown so much as a fighter. But I’m happy for her and for her journey from here on out.”

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/06/joanna-jedrzejczyk-retirement-no-surprise-carla-esparza

 

[HOV]

She's only saying she would have loved the rematch because she retired...she doesn't want that smoke again

 

[SaigeVanZant]

JJ still mangles Carla

 

[stormofshadow]

 

[Prologue]

Carla when JJ retires:

Carla when JJ comes out of retirement:

 

[Prologue]

 

[Arkham's Notorious Geyser]

Joanna may have been one of the best if not THE best Anti Wrestler in WMMA for the lighter weight classes, but it's not her grappling I'm worried about these days. It's her durability and striking. She's always had some of the best Kick-Boxing to boot, but nowadays it looks like she's getting found out.

Time away may have done her good from a physical recovery, and mental refresh stand point but I think the game has long passed her, much like Conor, the hunger and desire to compete may be there, but the skills and activity just aren't to compete with the ABOSLUTE best in the World.

JJ's done all a Woman could dream of anyway in WMMA, so it's not hard to see why she stepped away for a time before officially calling it on an already HoF Career as a Woman's Mixed Martial Artist.

 

[Reign009]

Carla when JJ retires:

Carla when JJ comes out of retirement:

Lmao.

 

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

I honestly think a rematch would have been interesting…

 

[Dr. Rose]

Joanna may have been one of the best if not THE best Anti Wrestler in WMMA for the lighter weight classes, but it's not her grappling I'm worried about these days. It's her durability and striking. She's always had some of the best Kick-Boxing to boot, but nowadays it looks like she's getting found out.

Time away may have done her good from a physical recovery, and mental refresh stand point but I think the game has long passed her, much like Conor, the hunger and desire to compete may be there, but the skills and activity just aren't to compete with the ABOSLUTE best in the World.

JJ's done all a Woman could dream of anyway in WMMA, so it's not hard to see why she stepped away for a time before officially calling it on an already HoF Career as a Woman's Mixed Martial Artist.

Good call with the accolades. She clearly deserves it. I don't know if she got passed by...she changed from a more varied striking regime to more of a boxer. Maybe I am wrong, but I wonder if injuries were a factor. You don't become a top end fighter in two sports and not walk away with something. She was one of my favorite fighters, male or female. She always came to bang.

 

[tritestill]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

She's only saying she would have loved the rematch because she retired...she doesn't want that smoke again

JJ beats her 10 out of 10 fights.

 

[aerius]

Good call with the accolades. She clearly deserves it. I don't know if she got passed by...she changed from a more varied striking regime to more of a boxer. Maybe I am wrong, but I wonder if injuries were a factor. You don't become a top end fighter in two sports and not walk away with something. She was one of my favorite fighters, male or female. She always came to bang.

Her training changed. Her striking was at its best when she was still with her Polish team, that's when we saw her full kickboxing game along with her ability to make in-fight adjustments and capitalize on her opponent's weaknesses. When she moved to ATT (Karolina fight and everything after) her striking started going backwards and she became more rigid and less able to adjust. She sticks to whatever game plan they come up with and goes down with the ship. I don't know why she changed teams but it is what it is.

 

[ryun253]

She was done when she got a boob job.

 

[ChimRichalds]

Totally inconspicuous timing with that statement.

 

[KazDibiase]

She was done when she got a boob job.

I always thought it's because she went to ATT. ATT is a one the best gyms in MMA but her fighting style just changed after going there.

 

[7 others]

Carla talking shit after that shitty win she had lol

 

[Stoic]

She's pretty old. Not convinced Joanna beats Carla today. Carla is also old, to be fair, though. She'll be hangin' 'em up soon as well.

 

[cheesus]

Joanna may have been one of the best if not THE best Anti Wrestler in WMMA for the lighter weight classes, but it's not her grappling I'm worried about these days. It's her durability and striking. She's always had some of the best Kick-Boxing to boot, but nowadays it looks like she's getting found out.

Time away may have done her good from a physical recovery, and mental refresh stand point but I think the game has long passed her, much like Conor, the hunger and desire to compete may be there, but the skills and activity just aren't to compete with the ABOSLUTE best in the World.

JJ's done all a Woman could dream of anyway in WMMA, so it's not hard to see why she stepped away for a time before officially calling it on an already HoF Career as a Woman's Mixed Martial Artist.

I don't think she'd have to worry about Carlas power, she couldn't even wake someone up with punches let alone put someone to sleep.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Lol. Joanna's just a terrible match-up for Carla. It's always easy to talk after someone's retired.

@SG123 thoughts? Don't be shy. They won't hurt you.