Norma Dumont Cruises Past Listless Aspen Ladd in UFC Fight Night 195 Headliner

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Norma Dumont took the path of least resistance and never once had to consider changing course.

The Syndicate MMA representative moved one step closer to title contention in the shallow Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s featherweight division, as she captured a unanimous decision over a shockingly inept Aspen Ladd in the UFC Fight Night 195 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47, all for Dumont (7-1, 3-1 UFC).

A short-notice substitution for the injured Holly Holm, Ladd (9-2, 4-2 UFC) produced next to nothing in terms of meaningful offense for four-plus rounds. Dumont leaned on jab-heavy standup, a neutralizing clinch and airtight takedown defense, as she built a commanding and ultimately insurmountable lead. Ladd enjoyed modest success in the fifth round—she bloodied the Brazilian’s nose with a few standing elbows—but failed to turn the corner despite the urging of her coaches.

Dumont will ride a three-fight winning streak into her next assignment.

Ageless Arlovksi Stymies Felipe

American Top Team’s Andrei Arlovski leaned on veteran guile and time-tested skills, as he laid claim to a unanimous decision over Carlos Felipe in the three-round heavyweight co-main event. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Arlovski (32-20, 21-14 UFC), who has posted four wins over his past five outings.

Felipe (11-2, 3-2 UFC) waited too long to get in gear. Arlovski tuned up the Brazilian with kicks to the body and legs, sharp right hands and occasional combinations. The onetime UFC champion even switched stances into a double jab at one point. Arlovksi, who turns 43 in February, showed signs of fatigue in the middle stanza but managed to keep his 26-year-old counterpart at a manageable distance for much of the period. Felipe hit his stride in the third round, where he upped his output and aggression. He also benefitted from an Arlovski slip that resulted in a burst of punches to the Belarusian’s head. However, Felipe never truly flirted with the finish he needed.

The setback closed to book on Felipe’s three-fight winning streak.

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Miller KOs Newcomer Gonzalez

Former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder Jim Miller knocked out Erick Gonzalez with a counter left hand in the second round of their lightweight attraction. Making his record-setting 38th appearance inside the Octagon, Miller (33-16, 22-15 UFC) drew the curtain 14 seconds into Round 2.

Gonzalez (14-6, 0-1 UFC) surprised the 50-fight veteran with a takedown in the first round and later staggered him with a sneaky left hand in close quarters. However, his porous defense betrayed him. At the start of Round 2, Miller countered an ill-conceived kick with a devastating left cross that folded the Octagon newcomer where he stood.

The knockout was Miller’s first since he took care of Takanori Gomi with punches at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016—1,925 days ago.

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Surging Fiorot Outstrikes Silva

French karateka Manon Fiorot outstruck Chute Boxe standout Mayra Bueno Silva to a unanimous decision in a three-round women’s flyweight showcase. Fiorot (8-1, 3-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 marks from the cageside judges.

Silva (7-2-1, 2-2-1 UFC) had no answer for the output with which she was met and instead resorted to taunts and posturing in a bid to knock the former UAE Warriors champion off course. Fiorot stayed true to her approach, cut loose with multi-punch combinations to the head, kept the Brazilian at bay with side kicks to the body and incorporated a few takedowns. Bleeding from the nose and mouth, Silva wore the look of resignation by the time it was over.

Fiorot, 31, has rattled off eight straight victories.

Landwehr Choke Dismisses Klein

Former M-1 Global champion Nate Landwehr disposed of Ludovit Klein with an anaconda choke in the third round of their featherweight feature. Landwehr (15-4, 2-2 UFC) brought it to a decisive close 2:22 into Round 3, as he secured the first submission win of his 19-fight career.

Klein (17-4, 1-2 UFC) was comfortable and effective in open space, especially in the first round. Landwehr crowded him in the clinch for much of the middle stanza, piling up points with punches and knees from close range. He kept his foot in the accelerator in the third, where he pressed Klein backward with punches, snapped down on a front headlock and rolled into the anaconda choke. Landwehr then tightened his squeeze on the Slovakian, prompting the tapout.

The 26-year-old Klein has suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time as a pro.

Continue Reading » UFC Fight Night 195 Prelims: Silva Stages Comeback, Stops Exhausted Sanchez