Tag: Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Kowalkiewicz Pens Touching Message Following J?drzejczyk’s Retirement

UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz shared a heartfelt post on social media following Joanna J?drzejczyk’s retirement announcement. Kowalkiewicz and J?drzejczyk were once bitter rivals in the strawweight division as the two Polish combatants squared off for the title at UFC 205. J?drzejczyk successfully defended her belt against Kowalkiewicz via a unanimous decision. While J?drzejczyk and Kowalkiewicz…

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UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz shared a heartfelt post on social media following Joanna J?drzejczyk’s retirement announcement.

Kowalkiewicz and J?drzejczyk were once bitter rivals in the strawweight division as the two Polish combatants squared off for the title at UFC 205. J?drzejczyk successfully defended her belt against Kowalkiewicz via a unanimous decision.

While J?drzejczyk and Kowalkiewicz had their fair share of bad blood ahead of their past UFC title fight, they’ve buried the hatchet in recent years. J?drzejczyk also helped train Kowalkiewicz for her last fight down at American Top Team in Florida.

J?drzejczyk’s UFC career came to a close this past weekend following a knockout loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 275. She announced her retirement in her post-fight interview and seems content with moving forward in life away from the Octagon.

In a recent Instagram post, Kowalkiewicz congratulated her fellow countrywoman on her success.

“I was number 2 practically for my entire sports career. It doesn’t bother me, on the contrary, I am proud of it, because you were and for me you will always be number 1,” Kowalkiewicz wrote of her former foe J?drzejczyk. “You are a legend. You wrote a beautiful and inspiring story. You are not only a great athlete who accomplished the impossible, but also a wonderful person. When our relationship was not the best, I needed help … I called you and although you did not have to help me, I could count on you.

“You are great not only in the octagon, but also in life. Now use it to the fullest. I wish you the best with all my heart.”

Despite J?drzejczyk’s fighting tenure concluding, she’s hinted at sticking around the sport for the foreseeable future. Following UFC 275, she hinted at pursuing a career in management and helping fighters move up in the sport’s hierarchy.

As for Kowalkiewicz, she recently snapped a five-fight losing skid with a win over Felice Herrig earlier this month. She’s picked up wins over the likes of Rose Namajunas, Randa Markos, and Jodie Esquibel during her career.

J?drzejczyk leaves the UFC as one of the greatest fighters in the promotion’s history, and at one point was thought of as one of the most dominant forces in the sport.

What are your thoughts on Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s message following Joanna J?drzejczyk’s retirement?

Continue Reading Kowalkiewicz Pens Touching Message Following J?drzejczyk’s Retirement at MMA News.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Reveals She Would Have Retired From MMA With UFC Vegas 56 Loss

Karolina KowalkiewiczOne-time UFC strawweight title challenger and former KSW flyweight champion, Karolina Kowalkiewicz has revealed that should she have suffered defeat against two-time opponent, Felice Herrig at UFC Vegas 56 last weekend, she would have called time on her professional mixed martial arts career.  Kowalkiewicz, a native of Lodz, Poland – managed to snap her five […]

Karolina Kowalkiewicz

One-time UFC strawweight title challenger and former KSW flyweight champion, Karolina Kowalkiewicz has revealed that should she have suffered defeat against two-time opponent, Felice Herrig at UFC Vegas 56 last weekend, she would have called time on her professional mixed martial arts career. 

Kowalkiewicz, a native of Lodz, Poland – managed to snap her five fight losing run at UFC Vegas 56 against Herrig – submitting her two-time opponent with an impressive second round rear-naked choke to add to a previous split decision win over Illinois native.

Following the defeat, Herrig herself called time on her professional mixed martial arts career, however, Kowalkiewicz has revealed that she planned to retire from the sport if Herrig handed her a sixth straight defeat.

“Yes,” Karolina Kowalkiewicz told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour when asked if she would have retired if Herrig defeated her at UFC Vegas 56. “I didn’t say this to nobody.”

Prior to her win against Herrig, Kowalkiewicz, who had suffered a period of four years without a professional victory inside the Octagon – explained how her submission defeat to fellow former title challenger, Jessica Penne forced her to call her career into question.

“Yes, I had a really bad moment in that time and I thought maybe it was time to finish with MMA,” Karolina Kowalkiewicz said. “But after a few months, after a few weeks when I fought and everything, no, I cannot finish with MMA because I love it. Not yet, not yet. Two (more) years for sure, I want to fight.”

“I didn’t train (for) a few months,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I had a break. I didn’t watch MMA. Just relax, work in Poland, and it was really good for me.” 

Karolina Kowalkiewicz holds a win over former two-time titleholder, Rose Namajunas

Challenging for undisputed strawweight gold at UFC 205 in November 2016 against compatriot, Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Kowalkiewicz has since begun training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida – alongside the Olsztyn striker. 

Entering the UFC boasting an undefeated 7-0 professional record, Kowalkiewicz landed victories over Randa Markos, Heather Jo Clark, and former two-time champion, Rose Namajuans before her Madison Square Garden title tangle against Jedrzejczyk.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Credits Joanna J?drzejczyk For UFC Vegas 56 Win

UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz has credited her first win in six fights to former Octagon rival Joanna J?drzejczyk. Kowalkiewicz got her hand raised for the first time in over four years after submitting Felice Herrig at UFC Vegas 56 last night. The 36-year-old locked in a rear naked choke towards the end of round two,…

Continue Reading Karolina Kowalkiewicz Credits Joanna J?drzejczyk For UFC Vegas 56 Win at MMA News.

UFC strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz has credited her first win in six fights to former Octagon rival Joanna J?drzejczyk.

Kowalkiewicz got her hand raised for the first time in over four years after submitting Felice Herrig at UFC Vegas 56 last night. The 36-year-old locked in a rear naked choke towards the end of round two, and after feeling the tap from Herrig, got to her knees and broke down in tears.

Curiously, the last time Kowalkiewicz had experienced victory was against Herrig, who she defeated via split decision at UFC 223 in 2018. Shortly after suffering her fourth-straight loss, the 37-year-old Herrig announced her MMA retirement.

Prior to her UFC Vegas 56 win, Kowalkiewicz had gone on a horror five-fight skid that started at UFC 228 in April 2018, where she suffered a brutal first-round knockout at the hands of Jéssica Andrade. She then racked up decision losses to Michelle Waterson, Alexa Grasso and Yan Xiaonan, before losing via first-round submission to Jessica Penne in August last year.

Kowalkiewicz Praises J?drzejczyk For Her Role In Win

It was certainly a revitalized Kowalkiewicz that we saw out there against Herrig, and part of the reason is likely down to her new training partner, J?drzejczyk. The Polish duo, who fought each other for the strawweight title in 2016, have since put their rivalry aside to become fast friends.

Kowalkiewicz Jedrzejczyk
PHOTO: MMA FIGHTING

And at the UFC Vegas 56 post-fight press conference, Kowalkiewicz was quick to answer when asked if J?drzejczyk had any role in her victory.

“Yes, yes, yes, Joanna very help me to organize this whole fight camp,” said Kowalkiewicz. “JJ thank you very much, I am here because of you. And yeah, this win is teamwork.”

What do you think of Karolina Kowalkiewicz crediting Joanna J?drzejczyk for her win?

Continue Reading Karolina Kowalkiewicz Credits Joanna J?drzejczyk For UFC Vegas 56 Win at MMA News.

Felice Herrig, UFC Veteran, Retires Following UFC Vegas 56 Defeat

UFC strawweight Felice Herrig is calling it quits after eight years of competing in the UFC Octagon. Herrig lost to former strawweight title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz on the UFC Vegas 56 prelims. She lost via second-round submission after Kowalkiewicz got her back and sunk in the rear-naked choke. After dropping her gloves in the center…

Continue Reading Felice Herrig, UFC Veteran, Retires Following UFC Vegas 56 Defeat at MMA News.

UFC strawweight Felice Herrig is calling it quits after eight years of competing in the UFC Octagon.

Herrig lost to former strawweight title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz on the UFC Vegas 56 prelims. She lost via second-round submission after Kowalkiewicz got her back and sunk in the rear-naked choke.

After dropping her gloves in the center of the cage, Herrig officially announced her retirement during her post-fight Octagon interview with Paul Felder.

Herrig had rejected the idea that she was in a ‘do or die’ scenario ahead of UFC Vegas 56. yet, after a fourth straight loss, the 37-year-old decided to call it a career.

Herrig earned a shot in the UFC following a successful run on The Ultimate Fighter 20. Despite a loss to Randa Markos that eliminated her from season title contention, she earned a win over Lisa Ellis at the finale to secure a spot in the promotion.

Herrig would go on to lose against Paige VanZant, before winning four in a row over the likes of Alexa Grasso and Cortney Casey. Her streak would come to an end after a split-decision loss to Kowalkiewicz in their first matchup at UFC 223.

Before her time in the UFC, she enjoyed brief stints in Bellator and XFC. She made her professional MMA debut at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 5 back in 2009.

Herrig concludes her professional career with a 14-10 record in the cage.

Are you surprised that Felice Herrig has decided to retire from the UFC?

Continue Reading Felice Herrig, UFC Veteran, Retires Following UFC Vegas 56 Defeat at MMA News.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Snaps 5-Fight Losing Run, Submits Felice Herrig In Rematch – UFC Vegas 56 Highlights

Karolina KowalkiewiczFormer UFC strawweight championship challenger, Karolina Kowalkiewicz has brought a long-awaited close to her run of five consecutive defeats — submitting two-time opponent, Felice Herrig with a second round rear-naked choke in the featured preliminary matchup of UFC Vegas 56. Karolina Kowalkiewicz, a former KSW flyweight champion and one-time title challenger under the UFC banner, […]

Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Former UFC strawweight championship challenger, Karolina Kowalkiewicz has brought a long-awaited close to her run of five consecutive defeats — submitting two-time opponent, Felice Herrig with a second round rear-naked choke in the featured preliminary matchup of UFC Vegas 56.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz, a former KSW flyweight champion and one-time title challenger under the UFC banner, most recently struck gold with a split decision win over the aforenoted, Herrig at UFC 223 in April 2017.

In the time since that most recent win, however, Kowalkiewicz, a native of Lodz, Poland — had suffered five straight defeats against Jessica Andrade, Michelle Waterson, Alexa Grasso, Yan Xiaonan, and Jessica Penne.

Making her first Octagon walk since August of last year at UFC 261, Kowalkiewicz managed to secure her first victory over four years with a re-run submission success against Herrig — adding to prior career wins over the likes of Jodie Esquibel, Heather Jo Clark, Randa Markos, Kalindra Faria, Mizuki Inoue, and former UFC strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas.

Following her submission rematch loss to Kowalkiewicz, Herrig, an eight-year veteran of the UFC — announced her retirement from professional mixed martial arts, leaving her gloves inside the Octagon.

Below, catch the highlights from Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s submission win against Felice Herrig

Jessica Penne Grabs Armbar Win Over The Returning Karolina Kowalkiewicz – UFC 265 Highlights

PenneOne-time UFC strawweight title challenger, Jessica Penne has handed fellow former title chaser, the returning, Karolina Kowalkiewicz a first round armbar defeat to open the preliminary portion of UFC 265 at the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas. Penne, a former Invicta FC atomweight gold holder managed to eventually lock up an armbar victory with just […]

Penne

One-time UFC strawweight title challenger, Jessica Penne has handed fellow former title chaser, the returning, Karolina Kowalkiewicz a first round armbar defeat to open the preliminary portion of UFC 265 at the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas.

Penne, a former Invicta FC atomweight gold holder managed to eventually lock up an armbar victory with just less than 30-seconds remaining in the first round as Lodz native, Kowalkiewicz admirably attempted to defend.

Following Penne to the ground, former KSW titleholder, Kowalkiewicz failed with a brief kneebar attack of her own, before California native, Penne secured her second straight victory via an armbar win — following a prior decision victory against former LFA champion, Lupita Godinez earlier this year.

Below, catch the highlights from Penne’s armbar success against Kowalkiewicz.