Ex-UFC Champ Argues for Title Shot Over ‘Inactive’ Julianna Pena, Kayla Harrison

“I'm gonna ask the UFC very friendly to give me my title shot.”

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Women’s bantamweights beware, a former champion is coming right back into the mix.

Germaine de Randamie returns to the UFC after nearly four years away from fighting to focus on becoming a mother. Newer fans might not recognize her, but don’t be fooled, de Randamie boasts one of the more impressive resumes in the division.

In the last 12 years, the UFC veteran has only lost to Amanda Nunes, considered the greatest female fighter ever. With Nunes now retired, perhaps it’s time for ‘The Iron Lady’ to shine.

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De Randamie meets #11 contender Norma Dumont in her comeback fight this weekend at UFC Vegas 90. Regardless of her opponent’s ranking, de Randamie believes a win should elevate her to a title shot, given she holds a win over the champion Raquel Pennington and two top contenders. 

“I'm gonna fight Raquel next,” de Randamie told MMA Junkie. “I want to fight Raquel next. Listen, Julianna Pena [should be] out of the rankings because she's been inactive. The division is quite dead since Amanda left. 


“We got a great fight next week with Kayla [Harrison] versus Holly [Holm]. But I defeated Holly. I defeated Pena. I defeated Raquel. Raquel asked everybody she lost her to rematch except me. My only loss in the UFC comes by the hand of Amanda Nunes.”

The inaugural featherweight champ continues to make her case for a title shot.

'GDR' holds wins over Holly Holm, Raquel Pennington, and Larissa Pacheco. Her only defeats in the UFC are to Amanda Nunes. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

“I defeated Larissa Pacheco. I defeated Aspen Ladd, a prospect. If I defeat Norma Saturday, I'm gonna ask the UFC very friendly to give me my title shot because I should be the one fighting next for the title. 


“I absolutely respect Raquel, absolutely. But a true champion knows if you ask anybody you lost to, to rematch, then you should also rematch me. Pena’s out, why should we wait? The division since Amanda left, it is a little bit quiet, not a lot of things happening. Let's make it exciting again.”

In addition to de Randamie’s return, the UFC has brought in former PFL Champion Kayla Harrison to revitalize the shallow bantamweight division. Harrison is slated to make her promotional (and bantamweight) debut against ex-champ Holly Holm at UFC 300 and is already being talked about as a potential title challenger.

GDR isn’t so much a fan of Harrison fighting for a title off one win in the Octagon.

“She just came to the UFC, can not fight one fight and then fight for the title maybe,” de Randamie explained. “Of course, she still has to make 135, too. She never fought at 135 either. I think she's gonna make [weight], she's a professional. But why do we count out Holly? Come on, that's not fair to Holly. Holly deserves the respect too, right? We cannot count anybody out. Anything can happen in fighting.


“No, I'm not surprised,” de Randamie said, when asked about Harrison’s UFC signing. “Why would I worry about that? The more the [merrier], right? How cool is that? If you fight, you wanna have that challenge. You wanna fight with the best, so why not? Like I said, the more [merrier], let's make the division alive again. The 135 division used to be the strongest and the most active and the most craziest division, and now it's not anymore. Let's make it happen again.”

Kayla Harrison is what you call a breath of fresh air at 135lbs. The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and PFL Lightweight Champion hopes to leave a good first impression at UFC 300 as well as a legacy worth remembering in the sport.

“Win a belt. Maybe win another belt real quick, defend it, and be two-time UFC champion and then I am and a world champion, and a Pan [American] champion, and a Pan Am Games champ. Anyways, I will be undisputed, the greatest combat athlete of all time,” Harrison said in a recent interview. “I’m pumped. It feels like the Olympics.”

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