Germaine de Randamie has introduced her retirement from blended martial arts, bringing an 11-year stint within the UFC to an finish.
After establishing her title beneath the Strikeforce banner, a powerful begin to life contained in the Octagon peaked with de Randamie changing into the inaugural UFC girls’s featherweight champion in 2017.
Having overwhelmed Holly Holm to seize the title, “The Iron Woman” didn’t make a protection after turning down a struggle with Cris Cyborg owing to the Brazilian’s historical past of PED utilization, a transfer that resulted within the UFC stripping her of the gold.
The Dutchwoman returned to 135 kilos in 2018 and reeled off wins over then-future champ Raquel Pennington and Aspen Ladd earlier than a failed title bid reverse Amanda Nunes in December 2019.
After a win over one other future bantamweight queen in Julianna Peña was adopted by a hiatus spanning three and a half years, de Randamie was outpointed by Norma Dumont in her comeback struggle this previous April. Per a latest Instagram submit, that end result will go down because the final addition to the 40-year-old’s document.
Regardless of being booked to face Jacqueline Cavalcanti subsequent January following the cancellation of her scheduled conflict in opposition to Nora Cornolle in Paris final month, de Randamie has in the end determined to hold up her gloves after being denied a ultimate farewell struggle earlier than the shut of this calendar 12 months.
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“Hey guys, with so many blended emotions I’m sharing this message with you guys,” de Randamie wrote. “I undoubtedly didn’t plan or envision/dream it this fashion, however hey it’s what it’s generally. I begged the UFC for 1 extra struggle. Nevertheless it needed to be this 12 months. I promised myself I’d retire from combating December 31, 2024. Sadly the UFC instructed me all playing cards are totally booked.
“That’s why I made a decision that the time is now. I actually wished I might have walked the stroll yet one more time. However I assume it was not meant to be. To many individuals to thank personally so thanks all for being part of my journey Thanks for all of the superb recollections. I’m eternally grateful for all of them,” de Randamie continued. “Like I at all times say, ‘DIE WITH MEMORIES, NOT DREAMS’”
Along with her 15-fight profession contained in the cage, de Randamie additionally loved a profitable stint within the kickboxing realm, the place she amassed an undefeated document of 46-0.
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Proceed Studying Former UFC Champion Pronounces Retirement: ‘I Begged The UFC For 1 Extra’ at MMA Information.
