De Randamie competed in kickboxing with an undefeated record of 46–0 including 30 knockouts.[3]
Mixed martial arts career
Early MMA career
De Randamie made her mixed martial arts debut on December 19, 2008, at Revolution Fight Club 2. She faced Vanessa Porto and was defeated via submission (armbar) in the first round.[4]
On September 11, 2010, de Randamie earned her first MMA win when she defeated Nikohl Johnson via unanimous decision at Playboy Fight Night 5.[5]
Strikeforce
De Randamie debuted for Strikeforce on January 29, 2011, at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg against Stephanie Webber. She defeated Webber via knockout in the first round.[6]
De Randamie debuted against Julie Kedzie at UFC on Fox 8. Relying mostly on clinch work, Germaine won the fight via split decision (30–27, 28–29, and 29–28).[11]
De Randamie next faced Larissa Pacheco at UFC 185 on March 14, 2015. She won the fight via TKO in the second round. [15]
Women's featherweight
De Randamie faced former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, at UFC 208 for the inaugural UFC Women's Featherweight Championship on February 11, 2017. She won the fight via unanimous decision.[16] At the end of the second and third rounds, de Randamie continued to throw punches after the horn had sounded. The first of those punches was a right hand that visibly wobbled Holm, who had already stopped fighting. The referee, however, did not take a point on either occasion, which affected the result of the fight and drew criticism from UFC president Dana White.[17][18] Of the media outlets that reported on the fight, 14 of 23 media outlets scored the bout in favour of Holm.[19] After the fight, de Randamie stated that the blows after the horn were unintentional.[20] In contrast, Holm stated that she believed de Randamie's punches after the horn was intentional.[21]
Stripping of Women’s Featherweight Championship
In late May, de Randamie released a statement over social media that she plans to move back to the bantamweight division and rejected the fight with Cris Cyborg due to her repeated transgressions with PEDs.[22][23] Her decision on not wanting to fight Cyborg drew criticism from many in the media by claiming she was avoiding Cyborg and ignoring her responsibility as a champion to fight any and all challengers.[24][25][26] In turn, the promotion stripped her of the title on June 19, 2017.[27][28] Instead, the newly signed Megan Anderson replaced her and was slated to face Cyborg for the UFC Women's Featherweight Championship at UFC 214, before Anderson herself was then replaced by Invicta Bantamweight ChampionTonya Evinger.[29]
A bout against Ketlen Vieira was announced for UFC Fight Night 125 on February 3, 2018. However, the bout was soon canceled due to a hand injury sustained by de Randamie.[31]
De Randamie faced Amanda Nunes in a rematch, on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245 for UFC women's bantamweight title fight.[37] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[38]
De Randamie was next expected to face Irene Aldana at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021, in New York. [42] However, de Randamie withdrew in early September due to injury.[43]
After a 3-year and six-month hiatus, de Randamie returned to the octagon and faced Norma Dumont on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240.[44] She lost the bout by unanimous decision.[45]
De Randamie is a police officer in the Netherlands and worked as a psychiatric nurse prior to becoming a police officer.[1]
De Randamie knocked out Belgian celebrity Tom Waes who was 40 lbs heavier than her in a boxing match.[55]
She currently lives in Utrecht with her girlfriend.[56] In September 2022, de Randamie announced she was pregnant with the couple's first child.[57] On March 20, 2023, de Randamie gave birth to their son.[58]
