Dutch kickboxing expert Germaine de Randamie is the first UFC women’s Featherweight champion after a tough fought win over former Bantamweight champion Holly Holm.
Controversially, de Randamie struck Holm with a strike after the round bell had sounded twice, at the end of the second and third rounds but the referee decided against taking points away from the Holland native.
Had points been deducted then Holm would have won the fight.
It continues a losing streak for the American who has now lost three straight fights since upsetting Ronda Rousey at UFC 196 in November 2015.
The new champion is likely to fight the consensus best women’s mma fighter in the world, Christiane Justino later in the year.
Earlier, MMA legend Anderson Silva returned to the winning circle with a somewhat controversial decision win over American Derek Brunson.
Brunson controlled much of the fight with distance and range but Silva landed the better shots which was clearly enough for the judges.
It’s Silva’s first official win since dropping the middleweight title to Chris Weidman in 2013.
The Brazilian had a 2015 win against Nick Diaz wiped out after failing a post -fight drugs test.
It was the former middleweight champions 17th UFC victory and is overall record improves to 34 wins with 8 losses.
Newshub.
