Next up on the main card at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs Woodley we have a women’s strawweight bout between Mackenzie Dern and Randa Markos. Round 1: The pair touch gloves to open the fight. Markos lands a quick counter right. Dern throws a high kick and slips, quickly attempting a submission before locking up […]
Round 1: The pair touch gloves to open the fight. Markos lands a quick counter right. Dern throws a high kick and slips, quickly attempting a submission before locking up a triangle. she transitions to an armbar. Markos posturing up and maintaining composure. Markos throws some ground and pound before Dern sweeps with an omaplata. Dern passes to mount before Markos retains half guard. Dern gets back to mount again. she continues to land ground and mound while trying to isolate an arm. She locks up an armbar. Markos defends before eventually tapping and giving in to the submission.
Official Result: Mackenzie Dern def. Randa Markos via SUB (Armbar) 3:44, R1
Randa Markos is set to battle Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 19 however the Canadian didn’t have a typical training camp after being denied entry into the United States. “I do everything across (the U.S.) border, so that affecte…
Randa Markos is set to battle Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 19 however the Canadian didn’t have a typical training camp after being denied entry into the United States. “I do everything across (the U.S.) border, so that affected my training a lot actually,” Markos told MMANews. “So I’ve been figuring out […]
To suggest that the path taken by Randa Markos to the UFC wasn’t the usual journey would be a vast understatement. Markos was born in Iraq to Chaldean Christian parents. As a child, she learned what it was like to go without, and what true survival felt like. During the Iran-Iraq War, her family was […]
To suggest that the path taken by Randa Markos to the UFC wasn’t the usual journey would be a vast understatement.
Markos was born in Iraq to Chaldean Christian parents. As a child, she learned what it was like to go without, and what true survival felt like. During the Iran-Iraq War, her family was held at gunpoint. They were able to escape, and fled to Canada.
Randa was three at the time when she first set foot in the nation that remains her home.
“My family and I came to this country (from Iraq) with almost nothing and the community helped us,” Markos told Canadian Press. “We struggled a lot to get here.”
Her father, a soldier in the Iraqi army during the war, never fully recovered from the horrors he witnessed first hand.
“He watched a lot of people die in front of him,” Markos explained.
One of four siblings – Markos has a sister and two brothers – she acknowledges the efforts of her mother for providing the strength and determination she found in order to make it in the UFC.
“The strongest person I’ve ever met,” Markos explained of her mom. “The strongest person that I’ve ever seen in my life – mentally, physically. She’s been through so much yet she still kept us all together.”
In high school at St. Joseph’s in her adopted hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Markos found her true calling on the wrestling mat. One-on-one competition suited her personality. She liked being out there, knowing that the only person she could rely on was herself.
Markos won a silver medal in the Ontario provincial finals. She was named her school’s female athlete of the year.
When she graduated high school, it was time for Markos to find a new passion.
“I couldn’t continue with my wrestling without leaving Windsor, so I got into jiu-jitsu, which is similar to wrestling, and that gave me a second chance to pursue something and take it all the way,” Markos told the Windsor Star.
She also gave kick boxing a try but after attending an MMA card, Markos instantly knew what her next destiny would be.
“I went to my first live MMA fight (in 2011) and I said, ‘That’s what I need to do,’” Markos recalled.
She was ready to bet on UFC as the place where she belonged.
“I’ve been in love with it ever since,” Markos said. “It’s been pretty amazing.”
As with most experiences in her life, the journey into the octagon carried many challenges for Markos to overcome, and not just when she was tangling with an opponent inside the cage.
As someone of Middle Eastern descent, her culture didn’t view what she was doing as an appropriate pursuit for a woman. It required a lot of convincing, even among those close to her, that what she was doing was noble and right.
“I’m representing all the Middle Eastern women around the world,” Markos told Canadian Press. “I think there’s a majority of us that had it really tough being a woman, especially me being a woman and being in this sport.
“A lot of people looked down upon me in my culture.”
For her, there was never a doubt in her mind that this was where she should be.
“I just want to show everyone don’t worry about what people say,” Markos said. ”We all have exactly the same opportunities. We just have to put everything aside and just do what we want to do.”
Her big break in MMA came in 2014 when Markos earned a spot in The Ultimate Fighter 20 via an open tryout and ended up reaching the semifinals, earning a contract with UFC.
“I don’t think anybody expected anything from me,” Markos said. “They just thought I was a nobody going in there to lose.”
Ever the Canadian, Markos earned the nickname “Quiet Storm” for her combination of politeness outside the octagon and ferociousness when inside it.
“‘People say, Canadians are really nice,’” Markos said. “Yes we are.”
Well, unless said Canuck is decking you with a roundhouse kick or making you submit with an arm bar, that is.
Consistency has eluded Markos during her UFC career. Currently ranked 17th in the strawweight division, she’s 10-8-1 overall and 6-7-1 since joining the UFC. But during her UFC career, she’s never been able to put together successive victories.
“There’s been times where I’m like, ‘Why am I doing this?,” Markos admitted. “Why am I putting all this time in and putting all of my life aside – my husband, my family, my parents – putting everything aside just for this, what I love do to?’
“You’re constantly thinking in your head, ‘Am I doing this for the right reasons? Am I going to get anywhere?’”
Her signature victory was a 2017 split-decision triumph over former UFC world women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza. Markos has ranked as high as No. 6 in the world.
“It’s a huge commitment,” Markos said. “You have to be in it 100 per cent or don’t do it all.”
Her most recent bout was a unanimous decision setback to Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night 170 last March in Brazil.
“As a fighter I will never quit,” Markos recently tweeted. “I hope that my corner will speak for me when I’m too proud to back down.”
Randa Markos says she could not be tested for COVID-19 despite feeling ill on her way back from fighting at UFC Brasilia. The Canadian strawweight lost by decision to Amanda Ribas in the closed-door UFC Brasilia. Although the fight was tough, Markos reveals she is now self-quarantining herself due to feeling sick. “Just made it […]
Randa Markos says she could not be tested for COVID-19 despite feeling ill on her way back from fighting at UFC Brasilia.
“Just made it home. Stopped by the coronavirus testing center and they wouldn’t test me. Long flights with a lot of people, not feeling great and I’m not a risk? Okay I guess I’ll be home for two weeks,” Markos tweeted.
The strawweight then followed it up with another tweet saying she just wants to be safe. Yet, she won’t be able to know if she has contracted COVID-19.
“I just want to be safe. Things were way different from when I left to when I came back from the fights. New changes every hour,” she added.
This is no doubt an interesting time for not just fighters but everyone in the world. The World Health Organization has declared this a global pandemic and cities and countries are in lockdown to try and prevent the spread.
UFC President, Dana White was even forced to postpone the next three events with the status fo UFC 249 up in the air. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father said he believes Dubai would be a good place to host the fight. But, whether we will see any sports for the next several weeks and months is unknown at this time.
For Randa Markos, the loss to Ribas has made her 10-8-1 as a pro. The Canadian has also alternated wins and losses since her third professional fight with one draw mixed in. In the UFC she is 6-7-1 with notable wins over Angela Hill, Ashley Yoder, and Carla Esparza. She’s currently not ranked in the top-15 at strawweight.
What do you make of Randa Markos having to be forced to go into self-quarantine?
Fans are going to have to wait a bit longer to see Paige VanZant return to the Octagon. “PVZ” was initially scheduled to face Amanda Ribas at UFC Brasilia from the Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil on March 14. However, according to a report from MMA Junkie, VanZant has been forced to pull from […]
Fans are going to have to wait a bit longer to see Paige VanZant return to the Octagon.
“PVZ” was initially scheduled to face Amanda Ribas at UFC Brasilia from the Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil on March 14. However, according to a report from MMA Junkie, VanZant has been forced to pull from the bout with an undisclosed injury. Now, Randa Markos has stepped in to face Ribas after VanZant’s injury. The news was first reported by Combate.
Markos has been alternating between wins and losses since 2014. She’s looking to put together her first win streak since 2013. Ribas is on a three-fight win streak with only one loss on her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record. She has won both of her fights under the UFC’s banner thus far, topping Emily Whitmire and Mackenzie Dern. Markos actually handed Dern the first loss of her career.
Before VanZant pulled from the card, the 25-year-old picked up a second-round submission win over Rachael Ostovich in January of last year. Prior to the victory, VanZant was on a two-fight losing streak to the likes of Michelle Waterson and Jessica-Rose Clark. You can check out the updated UFC Brasilia card after VanZant’s pull below.
UFC Brasilia
Lightweight: Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira
Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Johnny Walker
Flyweight: Jussier Formiga vs. Brandon Moreno
Women’s strawweight: Randa Markos vs. Amanda Ribas
Welterweight: Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Bantamweight: Enrique Barzola vs. Rani Yahya
Women’s bantamweight: Veronica Macedo vs. Bea Malecki
Women’s flyweight: Maryna Moroz vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
Welterweight: Gilbert Burns vs. Demian Maia
Lightweight: Francisco Trinaldo vs. John Makdessi
Flyweight: Su Mudaerji vs. Bruno Silva
Featherweight: Damir Hadzovic vs. Renato Moicano
What do you think about VanZant pulling from UFC Brasilia and Markos stepping in for her? Who do you want to see “PVZ” fight upon her return?
The UFC’s debut in Uruguay this August just added its first official fights to the lineup. UFC Brazil revealed today that seven bouts were officially announced for the event scheduled for August 10. The card will go down from the Antel Arena in M…
The UFC’s debut in Uruguay this August just added its first official fights to the lineup. UFC Brazil revealed today that seven bouts were officially announced for the event scheduled for August 10. The card will go down from the Antel Arena in Montevideo, Uruguay and will air on ESPN+. The most high-profile among them […]