Germaine de Randamie Announces MMA Retirement
Germaine de Randamie announced her retirement from mixed martial arts on October 31, 2024, saying she had hoped to compete once more before the end of the year. The former women’s featherweight champion had returned after a long layoff in April, then decided to leave competition after being told no remaining 2024 card had room for her.
A title-making run
Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, de Randamie built her reputation on striking before becoming a mixed martial artist. In February 2017, she defeated Holly Holm by unanimous decision to win the inaugural women’s featherweight championship. The promotion’s event report records the title result. She later moved back to bantamweight, where her notable wins included a 2019 first-round stoppage of Aspen Ladd and a 2020 guillotine submission of Julianna Peña.
The return and retirement
After submitting Peña in October 2020, de Randamie did not compete again until April 6, 2024. She lost a unanimous decision to Norma Dumont in the preliminary bout of a Fight Night card. The official preview of her comeback described the long gap and her return to competition; her official fighter record lists the Dumont result.
In her retirement message, de Randamie said she had asked for one more fight in 2024 but was told the remaining cards were full. She said she had been offered a bout with Jacqueline Cavalcanti on January 11, 2025, but had promised herself she would retire by December 31, 2024. She chose to announce her decision on October 31, describing it as the end of a 25-year fighting journey. MMA Fighting’s report quotes her explanation and records the proposed date and opponent.
A lasting legacy
De Randamie leaves competition as a former champion whose résumé spans kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Her defining championship moment came against Holm, while wins over Peña and Ladd, and a return to the cage after becoming a mother, marked later chapters of her career. Her decision to retire without a final bout was her own account of a year-end deadline meeting a full fight schedule.
Sources
- Official fighter profile and bout record
- Official report: de Randamie wins inaugural featherweight title
- Official comeback feature
- MMA Fighting: retirement announcement and proposed final bout
- ufc.com.br
- ufc.com
- youtube.com
