Germaine de Randamie

Germaine “Iron Lady” de Randamie is a Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist with Surinamese descent. She was born on April 24th 1984 in the Netherland. She was the first ever UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion of the UFC. She fights in the bantamweight division.

De Randamie is a decorated kickboxer and became the WIKBA World Champion in 2005, 2006 and 2007, IMTF World Champion in 2005 and WPKL European champion in 2003. She also holds the record for longest winning streak amongst women with 37.

Germaine de Randamie’s career before the UFC

Germaine de Randamie made her pro MMA debut on December 19th, 2008 at Revolution Fight Club 2. She faced Vanessa Porto and lost by armbar in the first round. She made her next appearence almost two years later and got her first pro win in MMA

Germaine de Randamie – Photo by Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

by defeating Nikohl Johnson by decision.

After defeating Stephanie Webber, Germaine de Randamie lost to veteran Julia Budd at Strikeforce – Challengers 16 by decision. After losing to Budd she defeated Hiroko Yamanaka before she signed with the UFC and moved down to Bantamweight, because the UFC didn’t have women’s Featherweight at the time.

Germaine de Randamie in the UFC

Germaine de Randamie made her UFC debut against veteran Julie Kedzie. A somewhat lack luster fight ended in de Randamies favor by decision. She was then defeated by future champion Amanda “Leoa” Nunes by TKO in the first round.

She won two straight fights at Bantamweight, both by stoppage. After the stoppage streak she got the chance to fight for the inaugural Women’s Bantamweight title.

Germaine de Randamie vs. Holly Holm

Germaine de Randamie faced off against former Bantamweight Champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm at UFC 208: Holm vs. de Randamie in February. She won the fight by unanimous decision but the fight wasn’t without controversy. In rounds two and three de Randamie threw a punch right as the bell sounded, which landed after the bell.

The referee didn’t take a point but the unintentional blows were visibly affecting Holm who staggered back to her corner on both occasions. Holm echoed the sentiment that the punches weren’t intentional and it was her fault that she stopped fighting before the referee broke them up for the end of the round.

Germaine de Randamie got stripped of her title when she wanted to move back to Bantamweight and refused to fight top contender Cristiane “Cris Cyborg” Justino.

Germaine de Randamie – Photo by Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Germaine de Randamie’s next fight in the UFC

Germaine de Randamie faces Marion Reneau on UFC Fight Night 115: Struve vs. Volkov in her home country of the Netherland, September 2nd.