LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 27: Joanna Jedrzejczyk is inducted during the UFC Hall of Fame 2024... [+]
If I were a betting man, I’d be willing to wager we haven’t seen the last of Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the Octagon.
The recent inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame says she “still has the itch” to fight. It seems the retired former Women’s Strawweight champion is waiting for the right challenge. According to Jedrzejczyk, she would consider coming out of retirement if the UFC introduced a female BMF title.
Jedrzejczyk mentioned this in an interview with Cageside Press. She was asked who she’d like to fight if she returned. “I would love to (fight), 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.”
What about the BMF title specifically? “Of course, when they brought my name (as a BMF), I texted Hunter (Campbell) right away. I was like, ‘So, Hunter what do you think about me fighting for the female BMF belt,’ and he was like, ‘No, you don’t need more titles.’… 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. Let’s go.”
You can seethe entire interviewbelow.
Jedrzejczyk is perfect for the female version of the BMF title (which stands for Bad Mother#####). She might be the best stand-up fighter in women’s MMA history, and when it comes to toughness, Jedrzejczyk is on an elite level.
She did have some horrific weight cuts in her career, so hopefully, she would compete at flyweight or 135 pounds in the bantamweight division. The BMF concept is ambiguous. Initially, it appeared to be designed for fighters who were past their primes as title contenders but for competitors who still had enough name recognition to move the needle.
The first-ever BMF fight saw Jorge Masvidal defeat Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November 2019 via referee/doctor stoppage (cut). Oddly enough, those two arefighting in a boxing match on Saturday night.
The BMF evolved a bit in its next two fights. While both men were serious title contenders at lightweight, Justin Gaethje defeated Dustin Poirier by head kick at UFC 291 in July 2023.
Likewise, Gaethje lost the BMF title in April at UFC 300 when he was KO’d at the buzzer by Max Holloway. Again, both men were contenders at the time of their meeting, and Holloway may have secured a title shot at featherweight largely on the strength of his performance at UFC 300.
Holloway’s win brought a new shine to the title, which may have been re-defined.
If featherweight kingIlia Topuria gets his way,his inevitable clash with Holloway will be for the 145-pound crown and the BMF belt. Jedrzejczyk’s willingness to compete in a female BMF is potentially exciting for the sport and the UFC.
Because the history of women’s MMA isn’t as long as it is for men, there aren’t as many fighters who have had an opportunity to carve a career that would land them in consideration for the female BMF criteria.
It is hoped that the UFC will recognize the potential of the female BMF title and provide this opportunity for its female fighters. This move could significantly enhance their earning potential.