The UFC had intended to inaugurate the new women’s featherweight belt with Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino vs., presumably, the top prospect available in the division. Cyborg wanted to take some time off and then was suspended after a medical treatment to reverse some of the effects of her brutal weight cut caused an anti-doping test to be flagged. She has applied for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption, and there are signs it will be granted. However, the show went on.
Holly Holm, on a two-fight losing streak at 135, was selected to fight #10 ranked 135er Germaine de Randamie for the 145 title. The Dutchwoman ended up winning a unanimous decision, 48-47. It was controversial in the extreme both because many felt Holm won round three in which she got a knockdown, and because de Randamie hit after the bell closing both the second and third rounds. Referee Todd Anderson did not take a point away, which would have led to a draw.
At the post-fight press conference, Holm said it was the hardest blows of the fight and that it was intentional.
She hit hard shots after the bell, those are the hardest shots I felt the whole entire fight, said Holm as transcribed by Anton Tabuena for BE. It was after the bell. I heard the bell, I stopped and she threw it. It wasn’t like the last punch of a combination when the bell rang. It was intentional.
A lot of times, the first one they give a warning, that’s kind of normal. I wouldn’t expect them to take a point after the first one, even though it was intentional. The second time, at that point you think at that point, they’d do something.
I mean, some of her best shots of the whole night were after the bell. I don’t know how the judges saw that. If they see that as points for her then what can you do?
If it was one shot after the bell, at the end of a combo, then that’s an accident. Sometimes you’re in the flurry of it. But I still think I could’ve won the fight on my own.”
Next time, I’ll just be ready to throw back.
In the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, de Randamie apologized, and denied the rule breaking was intentional.
It wasn’t meant for me to hit her after the bell, said de Randamie, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. It was in the heat of the moment. I apologize. I’m not like that.
It was a close fight. She [hit] me in the third round with a head kick. It was close, but I came to fight and she didn’t want to fight me. I’m a brawler. I want to fight.
I hoped she was going to fight with me. Holly is a tremendous champion. I truly respect her. But I love to brawl, I love to fight. Clinching is not my game. But whatever.
I want to fight everybody. If Cris Cyborg is the one I have to fight, I’ll fight her. Right now, I really need surgery on my hand. I’ll get surgery on my hand and we’ll see after.
