Germaine de Randamie was never a champion in Amanda Nunes’ eyes.
Despite winning the inaugural UFC women’s featherweight belt in a decision victory against Holly Holm back in February 2017, Nunes (18-4 MMA, 11-1 UFC) doesn’t think de Randamie (9-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) did enough to deserve the champion label. That would’ve been different for Nunes if de Randamie had gone on to defend her title, which she didn’t. Instead, she was stripped of her belt by the promotion for refusing to take on the then No. 1 contender Cris Cyborg.
“You only prove you’re a champion if you defend your belt,” Nunes said at the UFC 245 athlete panel on Wednesday. “She proved she give up her belt, she’s not supposed to be in this spot that I am right now. I feel like she’s evolved a lot, but I have all the answers for Saturday night. I will walk away with my belt without a doubt in my mind.”
Nunes, a double UFC champion, is scheduled to defend her bantamweight title on Saturday night at UFC 245 against de Randamie. It’s a rematch that stems from 2013, when Nunes finished de Randamie via first-round TKO.
Both fighters have gone on to achieve great things since. And although Nunes doesn’t recognize de Randamie to be a former champion, she does acknowledge her evolution (and devolution) in her MMA game.
“I do I see she’s evolved a lot, of course, specially in her wrestling defense,” Nunes said. It’s improved a lot, but her striking has changed a lot. She use to move a lot, now she’s kind of more stiff and that’s going to help me a lot put in my game plan. And yeah, I look at my first fight with her and if she makes the same mistakes, I will capitalize and finish the fight.”
