Germaine de Randamie vs. Norma Dumont
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dumont (-175), de Randamie (+145)

Round 1
For the first time in years, Dumont (10-2, 6-2 UFC) successfully made the bantamweight limit, hitting the scales at 136 pounds. In her return to the division still maintained by the organization, she draws former featherweight champ de Randamie (10-4, 7-2 UFC), who is coming back after nearly a four-year layoff. The victor could be right in the title picture, and they have the next 15 minutes or less to make their case. Referee Keith Peterson will keep things on the up-and-up and not allow any nonsense in the Apex, and the bout starts with a sporting clap of hands. De Randamie leads off with a front kick up the middle, and she follows it with a low kick after Dumont misses with a right up top. Dumont whiffs on a leg kick, and de Randamie steps in and spins her around with a thudding calf kick. Dumont flicks out a jab, and she catches a leg kick and tackles de Randamie down to the ground. De Randamie hits her back and threatens with a heel hook, but the Brazilian is quick to push past it and climb into the half guard. Dumont keeps de Randamie pressed flat on her back, and de Randamie tries to scoot her way towards the fence to sit up. The Dutchwoman regains full guard and closes it, and Dumont tries to break out of it with a short burst of ground-and-pound. Dumont leans one side to pursue an arm-triangle choke, but the leverage is not right and she bails on it. Dumont keeps smothering without landing any offense, and de Randamie shrugs and looks to Peterson to do something. Peterson asks for more activity from the Brazilian, and she stands up and tries to pass guard but is stopped from getting anywhere while lowering herself down. Dumont steps over at the same time that de Randamie explodes back to her feet, and she dumps de Randamie down to the ground to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumont
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumont
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Dumont

Round 2
The ladies clap hands to get things started, and de Randamie follows it with a jab. Dumont sits down on a big right hand, and she shoots in for a takedown. De Randamie stands her up and pops her with a jab, and when she looks to come after it with an overhand right, Dumont shoots in on her hips. The Dutchwoman again thwarts the takedown, and she turns Dumont towards the wall and starts landing short knees to the thigh and body. Dumont gives her one back before attempting to turn and throw her, but she bails when de Randamie keeps her balance. De Randamie finds the midsection with a few knees, and Dumont keeps a knee shield up to defend from a few more of them. De Randamie opens up with two clean right hands that make Dumont turn around, and Dumont gets away with a fence grab to turn herself in a more advantageous position. De Randamie keeps working the body with knees, and Dumont’s efforts to free herself or turn the tables largely fall short. Dumont does manage to put “The Iron Lady” and her back to the cage, but de Randamie responds with a knee up the middle that makes Dumont rethink her approach. De Randamie walks Dumont down and kicks her in the head, and Dumont shakes her head at her. De Randamie chains a few punches together, and she allows Dumont to throw hands because hers are more accurate and powerful. De Randamie looses a body kick, and the Brazilian catches it and slings her to the mat. Dumont lands and hacks down with an elbow, and she lifts de Randamie up and slams her on her back again to open up the guard around her waist. De Randamie maintains a high guard to keep Dumont honest, all while throwing elbows or punches off her back. De Randamie looks for butterfly hooks, and Dumont stands up and finds herself in immediate armbar danger. The round ends with Dumont surviving the sudden submission setup.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 de Randamie
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 de Randamie
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 de Randamie

Round 3
The bantamweights hug it out to start the final frame, and de Randamie is ready and willing to strike from her preferred range. Dumont swings back with bad intentions, but the straight, sharp strikes from the Dutchwoman keep her at bay. Dumont charges like a bull, grabbing hold of a double leg and sending de Randamie from one side of the cage to the other. De Randamie urgently moves to her knees and stands up with the wall at her back, and Dumont manages to hit a body lock and trip to dump her back down. De Randamie gives up her back when escaping, and Dumont sets up a rear-naked choke and stays with it while de Randamie turns to her back. Dumont lets the choke go and shifts to side control, where she sets up an arm-triangle choke. Dumont presses her shoulder down when the choke is not locked up, as she is on the other side. Dumont looks to pass as de Randamie turns to her side, and in the process she gives her back up. Dumont jumps on and sneaks a hook in, and she hand-fights while de Randamie protects against a potential choke. De Randamie keeps moving, turning all the way around and back to her knees. The Dutchwoman nearly slides Dumont off of her, but she manages to work to her feet and lean against the fence. Dumont laces one leg between her foe’s and wrangles de Randamie back down to the mat. A desperate de Randamie hacks with elbows or punches as Dumont lays on her, and this continues until time expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumont (29-28 Dumont)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumont (29-28 Dumont)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Dumont (29-28 Dumont)

The Official Result
Norma Dumont def. Germaine de Randamie via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)