MMA: Holm-Dumont on Oct. 16
Jul. 29—Miesha Tate wanted at least one more fight against someone else. Aspen Ladd did take a fight against someone else. Germaine de Randamie said no way.
So, Albuquerque's Holly Holm has opted not for advancement toward her stated goal of recapturing the UFC bantamweight title but to just getting back in the Octagon.
Holm has accepted a fight against Brazil's Norma Dumont on an Oct. 16 UFC card, according to multiple online sources.
The fight is scheduled for the featherweight limit of 145 pounds. Holm (14-5) normally fights at bantamweight (135) but three times has fought at featherweight.
Dumont (6-1) is a relative newcomer. Her one loss came against Megan Anderson, whom Holm defeated in one of her three previous fights at 145.
No site has been announced for the Oct. 16 card.
Holm, 39, won the bantamweight title on Nov. 14, 2015 with a stunning upset of previously unbeaten Ronda Rousey but lost the belt to Tate in her first defense.
The Albuquerque southpaw worked her way back to a title shot but was taken out in the first round by champion Amanda Nunes on July 6, 2019.
Holm was to have fought Julianna Pena in May, but had to undergo surgery for a kidney condition. Pena got the title shot and was scheduled to face Nunes on Aug. 7, until it was announced on Thursday that Nunes had tested positive for COVID-19.
Tate, who took the title from Holm but lost it to Nunes, recently returned from a 4 1/2-year retirement with a victory over Marion Reneau— prompting speculation, largely fueled by Tate, that a Holm-Tate rematch was in the offing. Reports are, however, that Tate wants at least one more fight before renewing that rivalry.
Ladd, whom Holm was to have fought in 2019 before the opportunity to fight Nunes for the title interceded, also was thought to be a prospective Holm opponent once the Albuquerquean had recovered from surgery. Instead, Ladd has been rescheduled to face Macy Chiasson on Oct. 2 after an injury to Chiasson delayed a fight originally set for last Saturday.
And DeRandamie, who defeated Holm by unanimous yet controversial decision for the inaugural UFC featherweight title in February 2017, reportedly has shown no interest in facing the New Mexico fighter again.
DeRandamie, Holm and Ladd, in that order, are the top three ranked challengers at bantamweight.
And thus, it's back to featherweight for Holm. Whether a victory over Dumont might lead to a shot at the 145-pound title — Nunes holds that belt as well — or even whether that's of any interest to Holm remains to be seen.
