Joanna Jedrzejczyk makes debut on Polish Dancing with the Stars

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has traded the octagon for the dance floor. The UFC Hall of Famer made her debut on the 32nd season of the Polish edition of Dancing with the Stars, known locally as Taniec z gwiazdami, earlier this month, partnering with professional dancer Kamil.

Jedrzejczyk, 39, is one of the most decorated fighters Poland has ever produced. She retired from MMA in June 2022 with a record of 16 wins and 5 losses, having spent years as one of the most dominant strawweight champions in UFC history. Standing five-foot-six with a 65-inch reach, she fought out of an orthodox stance and was known for her relentless striking volume, averaging an exceptional 6.28 significant strikes landed per minute across her career — a number that placed her among the sport's most active and accurate stand-up fighters. Among the opponents she defeated during her landmark run were Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Jessica Andrade.

Since retiring, she has remained a prominent figure in Poland and within the broader MMA community, and her appearance on the country's long-running celebrity dance competition represents another chapter in an already remarkable post-fighting public life.

Why it matters

• Jedrzejczyk remains one of the most recognizable names in European MMA, and her television profile only grows her reach beyond the sport
• Her participation highlights the crossover appeal that elite fighters can carry long after their competitive careers end
• At 39, she continues to represent Polish combat sports on a national stage in a very different arena