Video of an altercation between UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk and former and light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill surfaced on Monday and quickly went viral.
In the brief clip, Hill can be heard threatening Jedrzejczyk. “I’ll knock you the f*ck out … if you touch my girl I’m going to knock you the f*ck out,” he can be heard saying.
On Monday afternoon, Jedrzejczyk released a statement about the incident via social media.
“I worked so hard to earn my reputation, and I am embarrassed to be in this situation,” Jedrzejczyk wrote on Instagram. “But when somebody uses my name, falsely, without any basis in truth, I will always stand up for myself, and for that I do not deserve to be threatened.
“I am mindful that I am a strong, capable woman who has the benefit of a lifetime of self-defense training. I have a platform, and resources, that most women don’t have. So I empathize with the women who are disrespected and threatened, and lack the power and means to stand up for themselves. And to stand up for the truth. I expect more from each of us as individuals and as a society, and I certainly expect more from athletes in our sport—especially former champions.
“I want to thank the UFC security and staff for their professionalism. I consider this matter closed, and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!”
View the original article to see embedded media.
The full context of the UFC 323 backstage incident isn’t fully known, but UFC security had to intervene.
Jędrzejczyk retired from fighting in 2022. She held the women’s strawweight championship from March 2015 until November 2017, successfully defending the title five times. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2014.
Hill is currently ranked sixth in the light heavyweight division. He won the 205-pound championship in January 2023 but was defeated by Alex Pereira in his first title defense. Hill has lost three consecutive fights.
