Aspen Ladd’s appeal denied to have loss to Germaine de Randamie overturned

The first loss on Aspen Ladd’s record will remain intact.

On Tuesday, the 24-year-old UFC bantamweight went before the California State Athletic Commission seeking to have her knockout loss to Germaine de Randamie overturned after she believed the fight was stopped too early by referee Herb Dean.

The end came just 16 seconds into the opening round when de Randamie slugged Ladd with a devastating right hand that sent her to the canvas. De Randamie threw a second punch that also connected just as Dean rushed into stop the fight.

Afterwards, Ladd spoke about the stoppage, which was the first loss of her professional career.

“I lost the fight. Germaine’s a great competitor,” Ladd said. “I was still aware so I wish he hadn’t stopped the fight but there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

Eventually, Ladd and her manager Dave Hirschbein filed an appeal with the California State Athletic Commission seeking to have the loss overturned.

During the meeting on Tuesday as first reported by ESPN, Ladd’s manager argued that the fight was stopped too early perhaps because Ladd is a woman and the same situation may not have applied if a male fighter was competing that night.

Dean defended his stoppage while stating that he is not a “gender discriminator” with California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster calling him the best referee in the sport right now.

While arguments were made on both sides, ultimately the commission voted 3-2 to uphold the decision with Ladd’s appeal being denied.

“I respect the commission’s vote today, we lost 3-2, life rolls on and I’m looking forward to my next scrap,” Ladd said in a statement to MMA Fighting.

Ladd won’t have to wait long for her chance to return to the win column when she faces former Invicta FC champion Yana Kunitskaya at the upcoming UFC on ESPN 7 card from D.C. on Dec. 7.