Interview with Germaine De Randamie March 2004

Germaine De Randamie is a rising young Dutch star on the fight circuit. She has burst on the scene in the past couple of years notching up some impressive wins and is currently still undefeated. Trained by Mohammed Ait Hassou of Sitan Gym she is now a double world champion IMTF and WPKL.

All pictures are from the WPKL world title fight between Germaine De Randamie and Brenda Duynevald.

How old are you now and what is you current record?

I'm 19 years old, I've had 19 fights no losses no draw 3 k.o's

Why did you start muaythai? Had you done any other martial arts before?

I started muaythai because I love martial arts and muaythai was something i liked from the begining on when I was 5 years of age, the fights the whole ritual the respect the people have for their sport

You were with another gym before Sitan, who were they?

I was with JELLEMA a small gym here in mine home town utrecht, I start there doing muaythai when I was 15 1/2 years old

Why the move to Sitan?

I changed to Sitan gym because Jellema is a very small gym with no a-klass fighters so i had nobody to look up to and wanted to progress further, but I have respect for my ex-trainer.

How do you feel things have gone for you since moving to Sitan?
Can not be better. I have the best trainer of the world he is like my brother my best friend and my trainer i can talk to hie about everything, private and about fighting. I learn a lot from him every day, mental and physical. I'm very greateful to my trainer. and of course I train with many champions (only men) so I look up to them and can learn a lot from them.

Marja Vonk has fought in the UK before, how did you find fighting her?

It was great to fight against Marja. Marja had fought many champions and had a big record of fights, so for me it was a great step to the future.

What was your first title fight?

My first title fight was against Marja Vonk for the Dutch title WPKL 63.5 kg

Didn't you win the IMTF world championships last year?
Yes that's right, it was a great experience to fight in Thailand and to train there. My trainer wanted me to go there for experience because until then I did not fight a lot of fights and it was a great possibility for me and my trainer to look where I was standing at that moment in time and so i went to Thailand to fight the world championships

Can you talk us through your European title defense in London
how your felt the fight went?
On the first place it was great to fight in England. My fight against Fiona the first round was not very good i think, but the second round was a nice round I could throw some more nice combinations but it was ok, in every fight you make mistakes and in this fight i made also a lot of mistakes. But thats what make's you as a fighter stronger to learn from your mistakes and thats what i'm working out now with my trainer.

What did you think of the show?
It was great i hope to come back another time to england and to fight there again

What did you think of  the English standard of muaythai?
I think its great because the english people respect a lot the thai tradition of fighting, they repect it very much thats nice to see.

Who has been your hardest opponent so far?
Dagmar van Alfen, I fought Dagmar in my first a-klass fight in Madrid. It was a very hard continuous 5 rounds of explosion.

What for you have been the real highlights of your career?
Winning the WPKL world title, that was a dream for me since i was a little girl.

Please can you tell us more about the world title fight, and also what have been the other best fits of your career.
Every fight I fight is a very important fight for me it really doesn't matter if its a title fight or a prestige fight, i love to fight, every fight is a great fight for me and my career.

Is there one place above others where you really like to fight?
For me it really doesn't matter where I fight but if I have to make a choice then it would be a sold out Tokyo Dome or Kings Birthday.

What fights do you currently have lined up?
27 of March against Dina Pedro from Portugal, and the 29 of May in Utrecht against Trisha McKeary of the Uk.

Some people are comparing you to Lucia Rijker. How do you feel about that comparison?
It's an honour that people compare me to lucia rijker she is a great fighter. I hope in the future that I can be even that strong and as good as her.

What do you think of the other top female Dutch fighters such as Ilonka Elmont and Brenda Duynevald?
I respect all the fighters no matter what. I fight 2 times Brenda Duijneveld and I know Ilonka and I respect them for who they are and what they do.

What do you think are the top gyms in Holland at the moment?
Pro Sitan Gym, Gym Alkmaar, Gym International.

Who are your favourite fighters?
M.Ziani, Ramon Dekkers

Is there anyone in particular you would like to fight?
No nobody in particular, but I like to fight only the strongest woman.

Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
Thanks a lot for the intervieuw. I hope to come soon to England to fight there and to all the fighters the best luck for this season. Greetings Germaine de Randamie. The iron lady