See You Next Year! (Maybe)

Photo by Louis Grasse/PX Images/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who once thought COVID-19 was nothing more than a Chinese joke, probably isn’t doing much laughing these days after getting stuck in Poland.

Without her trainers at American Top Team.

That’s why Jedrzejczyk has delayed her mixed martial arts (MMA) return until 2021, or at least until fans are allowed back inside sporting arenas. Until then, consider the 33 year-old ex-champ on hiatus until further notice.

“I’m still fighting, I’m not retired,” Jedrzejczyk told Laura Sanko in Abu Dhabi (via MMA Fighting). “So many people on my social media they’re commentating that I’m retired, they’re asking but I’m not, I’m just taking my time.“

Jedrzejczyk (16-4) has not competed since losing a close decision to reigning 115-pound champion Weili Zhang, a five-round war that belongs in most “Fight of the Year” conversations as we start to close out a wild and wacky 2020.

“I don’t see myself fighting without fans, without an audience,” Jedrzejczyk continued. “You know how I interact with people. I don’t see myself fighting without fans. There is no sport without fans, any sport. I want my people to watch me live and support me. I just need it. I need this energy from people. This atmosphere always makes me feel so good.”

I guess we can rule out this place.