Following Inaugural UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie’s defeat of former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 208, “The Iron Lady” has decided that it is finally time to get some much needed surgery.
In her post-fight interview back in Feb., Randamie admitted that she needed surgery on her hand. Though the timing seemed odd, as she acknowledged the surgery immediately upon being asked about a potential fight with Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
Since the interview, Randamie has shown interest in forming an immediate rematch with Holly Holm, in hopes of quelling the controversy of her first bout with the former bantamweight champion.
On Monday’s edition of Ariel Helwani’s podcast The MMA Hour, “The Iron Lady” doubled down on her earlier statement. Though she did take the time to clarify a few things.
When asked about the post-fight interview and if she regretted her statements, Randamie said:
“Absolutely not, I don’t regret a thing of that because, you know, the thing is that I said that I needed surgery on my hand, and that’s the inevitable. I’ve never said, do I have to have the surgery right now? I’m I going to have permanent damage if I fight again? That’s something I need to evaluate with my doctor.”
Randamie continued.
“I apologize, I truly apologize for not making that clear, but I don’t run away from anybody. I knew Cyborg was there, and Cyborg is still in there. There is no reason for me to run, everybody is beatable, and it would be an honor for me to fight such a great champion in Cris ‘Cyborg.’ I’m not running, but at this point I do believe Holly [Holm] deserves the rematch.”
While Randamie is looking for a rematch with Holm, she understands the interest in a bout with “Cyborg.”
“I completely understand that people want to see that [Cyborg] fight and that’s probably going to happen, but I first have to fight Holly to clear everything up.”
Randamie offered some final thoughts on why Holm should be next in line.
“I think she deserves the rematch. I mean, a few weeks ago, it was still unclear if ‘Cyborg’ was going to fight anytime soon with the USADA thing going on, but I hear she’s clear, you know. I mean, if the fight is going to happen, is going to happen anyways but right now, I truly believe that Holly deserves it first so that we can settle things.”
Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino will almost undoubtedly compete in the featherweight division at some point. It is perhaps a simple matter of time. When “Cyborg” will be competing for the featherweight belt again is perhaps a different story.
