Miesha Tate Understands Why Joanna Jedrzejczyk Is Retiring

Like many fighters, Miesha Tate was shocked to see Joanna Jedrzejczyk announce her retirement at UFC 275.

Jedrzejczyk was once a dominant player in the sport, and she still had a very competitive match with Zhang Weili, even if it ended in a knockout loss.

“I didn’t expect it when I saw her taking off her gloves off inside the octagon, I was like, ‘What a minute,’” Tate said on The MMA Hour. “Because I thought she looked phenomenal. I thought both women looked like elevated versions of themselves, and I still think Joanna has a lot to offer should she choose to continue fighting.”

Tate stepped away from the sport after a unanimous decision loss to Raquel Pennington.

She had just turned 30 at the time, but after five years away from the cage, working in the industry behind the scenes and raising a family, she returned to the octagon for one last shot at gold.

Tate won her return fight against Marion Renau with a third-round TKO. However, she would go on to lose her next fight to Ketlen Vieira this past November.

Tate says that she can understand why Jedrzejczyk made her decision.

“As I’ve come to realize later in my life, and I think what she’s come to realize – and I had an interview with her just a couple weeks ago for our show – and she was so happy and fulfilled, and I recognized that in her,” Tate said. “She was in a great place, she was going in with a great mindset. I just feel like she’s ready to move on to the next chapter.

“I’ve been in that position before, except now she’s 35 years old, so I do think this is probably a smart decision, because it’s what she wants and what makes her happy, and life is too short to be miserable.”

Jedrzejczyk plans to stay close to UFC. She wants to start a family and work behind the scenes as a fighter manager

“She’s phenomenal,” Tate said. “She’s an amazing woman and a phenomenal fighter, and I think she’ll always be recognized as one of the best to ever compete in the UFC.”