Germaine de Randamie Calls It Quits After Unsuccessful Plea for Farewell Fight

Former UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie has announced her retirement from mixed martial arts, bringing an end to a storied career that spanned nearly two decades. The Dutch striker, known for her devastating kickboxing skills and historic achievement as the UFC’s inaugural women’s featherweight champion, announced after expressing frustration with her inability to secure a final bout in the Octagon.

Germaine de Randamie has retired from MMA.

She tried to get one last fight this year but all of the cards are full. pic.twitter.com/NRuOMRvlLG

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 31, 2024

De Randamie, who last competed in March 2023, had been vocal about her desire for one last fight to cap off her illustrious career. However, despite her repeated requests to the UFC, the organization seemed unableto accommodate her wish for a farewell match this year with the rest of the cards for 2024 all filled up. The 39-year-old veteran, clearly disheartened by the lack of response, took to social media to inform her fans of her decision to hang up her gloves.

“I begged the UFC for 1 more fight,” de Randamie stated in her retirement post. “But it had to be this year. I promised myself I would retire from fighting December 31st 2024.”

De Randamie’s career was marked by significant achievements and controversial moments. She made history in February 2017 when she defeated Holly Holm to become the first-ever UFC women’s featherweight champion. However, her reign was short-lived and marred by controversy, as she was stripped of the title just four months later for refusing to defend it against Cris Cyborg.

Throughout her UFC tenure, de Randamie showcased her striking prowess, amassing a 7-3 record in the promotion with notable victories over Aspen Ladd, Raquel Pennington, and Julianna Peña. Her only losses in the Octagon came against all-time greats Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm, as well as the surging Norma Dumont.

As de Randamie steps away from competitive fighting, she leaves behind a legacy as a pioneer in women’s MMA and a feared striker with a kickboxing background that few could match. Her retirement marks the end of an era for Dutch MMA, which has produced numerous world-class fighters over the years.

While fans will undoubtedly miss seeing de Randamie in action, her decision to retire on her own terms, rather than continue to wait for an opportunity that may never come, speaks to her strength of character. As the MMA world bids farewell to one of its champions, Germaine de Randamie’s impact on the sport will be remembered long after her final walk from the Octagon.