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In a world full of “jerks” who use a bad attitude and behavior to get more eyeballs their way, Germaine de Randamie has always opted to remain true to herself. As a result, “Iron Lady” feels she hasn’t been getting the respect she truly deserves in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).
While she is ranked No. 1 in the women’s Bantamweight division, de Randamie doesn’t exactly dominate headlines with soundbites or out-of-the cage issues that keep her in the public eye, for better or worse. What she does do, though, is kick butt and take names in and out of the cage as she is not only world-class fighter, but a police officer.
After choking out Julianna Pena last night at UFC Fight Island 4 (see it), de Randamie believes it’s high time that people start putting some long overdue respect on her name.
“I believe, honestly, that I have not gotten the respect that I believe I deserve,” de Randamie told MMA Junkie during the post-fight press conference (see it again here).
“I have made history in my career a couple times – a lot of couple times. I really did not get the respect, and I’ve seen in the past if you’re a jerk, you get the respect in the UFC. I don’t want to be a jerk. I want to stay true to myself. But I believe I deserve a little more respect for all that I’ve done in my career.”
Indeed, de Randamie was UFC’s first-ever women’s Featherweight champion, though she did catch some heat for her unwillingness to fight Cris Cyborg, though she had her own reasons for that. All that aside, “Iron Lady” has only lost to one person inside the Octagon, and that is current champ-champ Amanda Nunes.
Now that she is back in the win column, de Randamie could be in line for a rematch against Holly Holm, which could determine the No. 1 contender in the division, which will earn the victor another shot at dethroning “Lioness.”
If Germaine is the one to accomplish that feat, the respect should come in truck loads.