Former title challenger Irene Aldana took on ex-featherweight contender Norma Dumont in a bantamweight clash at UFC 306 on Saturday, with Aldana representing Mexico at a card held to celebrate Mexican independence.
The pair found Dumont entering on a strong four-fight win streak that included a victory over former 145lb champ Germaine de Randamie.
Dumont flashed some stance switches in the opening round, while Aldana walked the Brazilian down. Dumont did a lot of circling, picking her moments, at times launching into short combos. Dumont’s right hand landed more than once, but Aldana’s forward momentum felt ever-present. Her left hook found a home, as did a kick, but Dumont’s low kicks were a more frequent occurrence through the first five minutes of the bantamweight fight. Dumont arguably had the edge in round one.
The forward march continued for Aldana in round two, with neither woman showing a real interest in taking the fight to the mat. Aldana fired her overhand right, but just past the midway mark it was Dumont firing back with a combo that saw the pace pick up, more heat behind those shots. As Aldana tried to close the distance, Dumont was landing with solid timing. The pace really picked up in the final minute, after which Aldana’s forehead was split open off a clash of heads, blood pouring out and flowing down her face and neck.
Aldana would need to deal with that blood in the third, though she kept walking forward as she had throughout the night. They finally came together in a clinch near the midway mark, Dumont actually seeking a takedown she ultimately couldn’t land as Aldana turned up the heat. Aldana, meanwhile, would land an elbow that bloodied Dumont, and left her with swelling and bruising to one side of the face. Still, Dumont held her own, answering back and negating Aldana’s reach advantage.
The bloody affair went the distance in the end, with 30-27 scores awarded to Dumont by all three judges.
Official Result: Norma Dumont def. Irene Aldana by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
