Former UFC title champion Germaine de Randamie has announced via social media that she has made the decision to retire.
The Dutch kickboxing specialist competed ten times inside the Octagon and became the inaugural women's featherweight champion back in 2017.
At UFC 208, she defeated Holly Holm to win the title in a controversial fight before she made the decision to return to bantamweight.
Following back-to-back wins at 135-pounds, she faced the champion, Amanda Nunes, in a rematch of their first meeting back in 2013.
"The Iron Lady" came up short but went on to submit Julianna Peña in her bounce back fight.
She fought one more time in the Octagon, returning from a four year hiatus but losing a unanimous decision to Norma Dumont this past April.
De Randamie was then booked to face Nora Cornolle at UFC Paris in September but when the fight was cancelled due to an injury that she suffered, it led her to this decision.
The former champion wanted to get one more fight in but with the UFC schedule already locked in and her fixed retirement date quickly approaching, her return against Dumont will be the last time that we see her compete in MMA.
De Randamie posted a video on her Instagram page that came with the following caption:
"With so many mixed feelings I’m sharing this message with you guys. I definitely didn’t plan or envisioned/dreamed it this way but hey it is what it is sometimes. I begged the UFC for 1 more fight. But it had to be this year. I promised myself I would retire from fighting December 31st 2024. Unfortunately the UFC told me all cards are fully booked.
"That’s why I decided that the time is now. I really wished I could have walked the walk one more time. But I guess it was not meant to be. To many people to thank personally so thank you all for being a part of my journey❤️ Thank you for all the amazing memories. I’m forever grateful for all of them. Like I always say 'DIE WITH MEMORIES, NOT DREAMS'. The Ironlady has left the building ushhh"
