Former champion Germaine de Randamie’s return to action at UFC Vegas 90 against Norma Dumont after almost four years away from MMA ended in defeat as the younger contender’s wrestling proved decisive.
After becoming a mother, forty-year old de Randamie looked to also become a title challenger once more, starting against eleventh-ranked bantamweight Norma Dumont and her three fight winning streak. Her Dutch kickboxing style matched up with the well-rounded style of the Brazilian, but was not enough.
GDR showed her Dutch kickboxing skill from the beginning with her punishing leg kicks. However, early on after one kick she tripped and got stuck on her back after going for a leg lock when Dumont jumped on top. Germaine regained full-guard and hung out there for most of the rest of the round, not getting up, but neither did Norma do much damage. GDR stood up with ten seconds left, but got taken down again at the horn.
In the second round she defended the first few takedowns and traded knees with Dumont in the clinch. GDR got the dominant position there and began to take over, landing elbows as well. Dumont eventually escaped, but not until her stomach had been tenderized. De Randamie landed a head kick that Norma somehow survived, and the next kick offering was turned into a takedown for Dumont. GDR stifled her from full guard for the rest of the round, making her earlier damage still likely meaningful enough to have her win the second round, especially with a closing seconds armbar attempt.
After a hug, the final round started with the score likely tied. The hands of GDR were on fire early, especially her jab, but Dumont’s first shot got her down. However, Germaine was able to use the fence to get back up, but got mat returned quickly. Norma stayed in side control, doing zero damage, for two minutes until GDR tried to explode up. At that point, Dumont took her back with both hooks in. GDR cleared one hook and worked to get up against the fence, but got mat returned again and ended the round on the bottom.
The fight was close, with low margins in damage, but Dumont’s control in the first and last rounds seemed to make the decision clear. That proved true, as all three judges awarded her the win by a score of 29-28.
Official Result: Norma Dumont def. Germaine de Randamie by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
