Newly crowned UFC featherweight champion Germaine De Randamie spoke to the media about her historic UFC 208 title win over Holly Holm, the fight’s controversy and a potential fight against Cris Cyborg.
De Randamie claims “I respect Holly”
A recurring theme throughout the conference call, the 32-year-old was respectful of Holm. The Dutch athlete said: “I respect Holm so much and it was a pleasure to share the octagon with her.” She did insist that she thought she won the fight and that she ‘dominated the stand-up and did more damage’.
There was a lot of controversy surrounding De Randamie’s title win in Brooklyn, with the Dutch woman landing blows to Holm after the bell in rounds two and three. However, De Randamie was keen to emphasise that she is not a dirty fighter and that the incident after the bell was not a purposeful act.
Germaine added: “If Holly feels that way, there is nothing I can do. I believe I was the fair winner and dominated the stand-up. I understand she is upset. Holly is entitled to her own opinion and I respect that.” De Randamie said if she was to change anything from the first fight she would ‘listen to the bell’.
Cyborg next for De Randamie:
With the offer of a rematch, it appears that Holm will likely be the champion’s next bout. She revealed: “I am going to a doctor to see about my hand, see if I need surgery and we will see where to go from there. I can not state when I will next fight.”
Interestingly, De Randamie admitted that she is intered in bouts with UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and currently suspended featherweight Cris “Cyborg.”
She expressed her glee over the idea of becoming the first female two-weight champion and welcomed a fight against Cyborg, claiming: “When you’re champion you have to fight everyone. That includes Cyborg. I just believe Holly deserves the rematch first.”
