Kickboxer-turned-MMA fighter Germaine de Randamie is looking to rebound from her first Strikeforce loss and instantly throw herself into the featherweight title picture as she takes on the #1 Unified ranked Hiroko Yamanaka in the Strikeforce preliminaries on ShoExtreme Aug. 18.
The “Iron Lady” is known for her striking and is looking to get a signature knockout with the Japanese phenom.
We talked to de Randamie about the upcoming match and coming back after her first loss in Strikeforce.
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Wombat Sports: In your last fight, we were expecting a striking war between you and Julia Budd, but she had made it a ground battle. Were you expecting this at all?
Germaine de Randamie: I expected it to be an overall war. Eventhough the fight went to the ground, I don’t think it was a war. I like action and there was not enough. I spent the first two rounds battling myself, instead of fighting the person in front of me. Julia won and I defeated myself. I’m a fighter, I want to leave it all in the cage and I don’t think I did that.
Wombat: What did you learn from the loss?
de Randamie: I learned that it is important to leave EVERYTHING in the cage and have no regrets. Win or lose, I don’t want to wake up the next day wishing I had done just a little more, threw one more punch, attempted the submisssion, or had one more takedown.
W.S.: You have fought at 135 and made the move back to 145. Has cutting less weight helped?
GdR: I really wasn’t thinking about it as cutting less weight but more of a great opportunity with Strikeforce to fight the number one ranked Hiroki Yamanaka on an incredible female headlined card.
W.S.: It’s been a year since then and now you have the #1 female in the featherweight division Hiroko Yamanaka. What would a win mean to you?
GdR: A win doesn’t always mean you have your hand raised. Sometimes a win is overcoming challenges – some that life has put in front of you or some that you put in front of yourself. The Olympics are going on right now, and if an athlete doesn’t bring home a medal, it doesn’t mean they haven’t won.
I have to steal the words from another fighter, Josesito Lopez, “I hate losing more than I love winning.”
The most important thing, for me, is the way I finish the fight and how I’ve grown as a fighter. If I defeat the number one at 145lbs, I would be in the position to fight the top competitors at 135lbs.
W.S.: Will you be looking to get more fights before the end of the year?
GdR: Any fighter is looking for more fights. My focus right now is on the fight in front of me. It’s like life, taking it one day at a time.
W.S.: Anyone you’d like to thank?
GdR: My biggest thanks is to all of the fans, without them we wouldn’t be seen. This includes Stikeforce, Zuffa and Showtime.
I have to thank all of my sponsors – Premier Motors, Precision Cutz, Aniki’s Sushi, Kickboxing Arnhem, AKA, Mark Tabuso, Serao MMA.
Thank you to my Mom, my Dad, my Brother, Ares (my dog) Kathy Castillo, Jenna Castillo, all of my training partners, trainers and fans – you’re the best!
Also, thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me – without you, I wouldn’t have gotten out of bed and ran that extra mile or pushed that one more round.
