Germaine de Randamie becomes inaugural Women's Featherweight queen:

Controversy surrounds inaugural Featherweight title fight after GDR lands late strikes twice.

The main event of UFC 208, sees an inaugural Women's Featherweight title bout between former Bantamweight queen Holly Holm and fantastic kickboxing and Muay Thai master Germaine 'The Iron Lady' de Randamie. Holm and de Randamie, arguably the two most decorated female mixed-martial artists to cross over to the ever growing sport, will duke it out to establish a first champion at 145lbs. Holm's keys for victory include her utilisation of her counter strikes, devastating high kicks and supreme footwork, de Randamie on the otherhand must strategically implement her knees and Muay Thai background, including those dehabilitating leg kicks. The first of five scheduled rounds began with a kick from de Randamie and a counter right from Holly. Holm scored a good leg kick early on. Germaine then returned one of her own. de Randamie was really landing that right hand as Holm approached to engage. Surprisingly, Holm shot for a single leg, as de Randamie defended. Very tight and tentative first round. The second round began with a quick combination from Holm, as a high kick missed, before de Randamie landing that right hand once more. A right hook then landed for the Utrecht native. de Randamie's output was significantly reduced in the clinch, before a spin allowed for them vicious knees from the Dutch fighter. de Randamie landed a huge right hand after the buzzer, clearly stunning Holm, poor positioning from the referee. Round three began with a good right hand from Germaine after a leg kick miss from Holm. Holm missed with a clinch attempt as de Randamie spun. de Randamie then landed a good kick to the body of Holm. A good left hand landed for de Randamie from the clinch. More controversy at the end of the third as Holm landed a high question mark kick, and once more, after the buzzer, de Randamie landed twice, Todd Andersen questionably told how "if it happens again, I'll take a point away" after it had happened twice already. The fourth round seen more clinching from Holm, before Andersen stepped in to break them up. Holm landed a good kick to the body before a good leg kick by de Randamie. Holm still couldn't get de Randamie to the mat, as she defended well, but big deep breathes we're noticeable from Germaine.  The fifth and final round began with Holm missing with a high kick attempt. Holm then caught Germaine with a hugh left hand, but still persisted with the takedown, as Greg Jackson ordered her to "disengage" from the clinch. Todd Andersen once more stepped in to separate both fighters. Both women exchanged knees in the clinch with just under a minute left in this inaugural title fight. The first Women's Featherweight bout, goes the distance. The judges awarded the 145lbs crown to Germaine de Randamie via unanimous decision.

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