The UFC 306 bout between Irene Aldana and Norma Dumont stole the show but for all the wrong reasons! The two bantamweights went to war for 3 rounds and by the end of the fight, Aldana’s face resembled a bloody mask. The fight was largely a striking affair with both Aldana and Dumont squaring up and throwing heavy leather.

Aldana tried to impose her boxing-heavy game plan but Dumont’s movement and distance control didn’t let the Mexican fighter establish her range at all.  Aldana didn’t just lose the fight; she wore every second of it on her face. The reactions by fans were filled with shock and also anger at referee Herb Dean for his decision to let the bout continue.

With the win now secured, Dumont is now on a 5-fight win streak and has put the rest of the division on notice. But her win has been overshadowed by what she did to her opponent! Here’s a look at what the online community had to say.

Fans fire salvos at Herb Dean for decision to let Irene Aldana continue to fight at UFC 306 despite horrific cuts

You could almost feel the collective wince from fans across the globe. In a sport known for blood and bruises, this was on another level. So while one noted, “She got battered! Yikes!” another was left in disbelief as the number of cuts sustained by Aldana made her face look like she went through a meat grinder: “F**king disgusting cuts. 3 cuts wtf.”

Some keen eyed viewers also tallied out the damage taken by Aldana and it’s staggering: “Broken nose, huge black eye, other eye is swollen too, nose looked broken, cut on the eyebrow. Can’t remember seeing damage like this on 1 face.” So, why wasn’t the fight called off? That’s what one fan took issue with calling for strict action against the referee in charge, Herb Dean- “Fire Herb Dean This man it’s a stupid a**”

While the fight left many speechless, others couldn’t help but draw comparisons. Referencing Alistair Overeem’s infamous injury sustained against Jairzinho Rozenstruik from 2019, the fans pointed that even with that memory in mind, Aldana’s state after UFC 306 is a contender for the worst damage in UFC history. “Jesus Christ man that’s nasty. I still think Overeem’s lip takes it, but dude…” What do you think?

Despite the chaos, Irene Aldana never quit. She didn’t break. Her resilience shone through the mess of blood and swelling and one fan captured the sentiment perfectly, “Irene Adana is a warrior queen .”

In the end, the UFC 306  fight between Norma Dumont and Irene Aldana will be remembered not just for a back-and-forth technical bout but for the sheer brutality Aldana endured. Fans across the world couldn’t believe their eyes as her face became a canvas of cuts and bruises. Yet, through all the damage, Aldana’s spirit remained unbroken. But with such overwhelming reactions from the fans, one question lingers—should the fight have been stopped sooner? It’s a debate that will continue,  but let us know if you think the fight should have been stopped in the comments below!