Germaine de Randamie beats Holly Holm in controversial UFC 208 title fight
Monday 13 February 2017 17:16, UK
Germaine de Randamie claimed the first women's featherweight title with a controversial win over Holly Holm at UFC 208.
The Dutch fighter appeared lucky not to be deducted a point for a pair of blows made clearly after the bell and secured victory with 48-47 decisions on all three cards at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn.
De Randamie set out to get involved in a brawl against former world champion boxer Holm, spending as much time grappling around the cage as she could.
She was on top during the first round, only for Holm to rally in the second which saw the first point of controversy, De Randamie hitting Holm in the face at least a second after the bell had rung.
De Randamie got back on top in the third but again caught Holm after the bell, albeit with a lighter shot that brought a final warning from referee Todd Anderson.
They shared the final two rounds, with Holm's strong finish in round five not enough to make up the scoring difference, and she was left to wonder what might have been had De Randamie been penalised.
De Randamie said: "It was in the heat of the moment. I apologise and I didn't mean to hit her after the bell. It was heat of the moment. I am not that kind of a fighter."
Holm has now lost three bouts on the trot since her famous victory over Ronda Rousey in November 2015.
