Norma Dumont from São Paulo is eager for a fight that will put her in contention for the UFC bantamweight title. However, she is finding it increasingly challenging to secure a suitable opponent. Dumont has demonstrated her skills with five consecutive victories in the octagon, including wins against Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana in 2024. Speaking to MMA Fighting, she admitted her uncertainty about who she might face next.
“It’s incredibly frustrating because my focus is entirely on the belt. That’s my ultimate goal,” Dumont stated. “Everything I’m doing is aimed at getting a title shot, and I agreed to fights that were supposed to lead me down that path. Now, it’s frustrating to find myself without any clear options.”
The current champion, Julianna Peña, is scheduled to defend her title against Kayla Harrison on June 7 in Newark. Dumont had hoped for a fight against former champion Raquel Pennington to determine the top contender. However, she was informed by the UFC that Pennington is sidelined with an injury and has no confirmed return date. With Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira also set to fight on May 31, Dumont is left without a top-ranked opponent.
Dumont acknowledged that fighting someone ranked below her could keep her active, but it wouldn`t advance her towards her title aspirations. “Fighting lower-ranked opponents won’t put me in a position to fight for the belt next. I need a fight that propels me to a title shot, otherwise I’ll remain in the same place without reaching my main objective.”
When questioned about the difficulty in securing fights, Dumont suggested, “Perhaps I’m not their preferred choice. It could be due to my fighting style, as I’m versatile and physically bigger for this division. I believe it might be a strategic decision. Sometimes, planning a win against other fighters is easier. We joke about it being fear, but I think it’s simply strategy. I’m a black belt in both ground fighting and striking. I’m a large, strong, and fit athlete, so maybe I present a complicated challenge for these women.”
Dumont is determined to avoid being inactive for a full year and expects the UFC to finalize a date and opponent for her before the end of the month. Having recently joined Chute Boxe Diego Lima in São Paulo following her victory over Aldana in September, she has offered to be a backup fighter for the Peña vs. Harrison bout at UFC 316. She believes having her own fight on the same card would also be “ideal.”
“We considered the possibility of having Pennington and myself on the same card as the Kayla and Julianna fight. If something happened and the main event fell through, I could step in,” Dumont explained. “However, Pennington’s injury has disrupted everyone’s plans, not just mine, but also the UFC’s. They had plans in place, and now they’re adjusting the remaining pieces. It’s become more complex.”
Dumont hopes that her UFC record to date will warrant a title shot after just one more win, regardless of her next opponent. However, the potential return of legendary two-division champion Amanda Nunes could complicate these plans.
“I think Kayla will defeat Julianna, and Amanda might return,” Dumont speculated. “Not for a prolonged comeback, but specifically to fight Kayla. I believe she might return solely for that fight and then retire again. That would be unfavorable for me as it would slow down the division, but there’s a real possibility it could happen.”
If Nunes’s return is contingent on Harrison holding the belt that Nunes once owned, Dumont believes it’s only a matter of time before it materializes. She also acknowledges that Peña shouldn`t be underestimated at UFC 316.
“The issue for Julianna is her size disadvantage in this division, and her go-to strategy is to clinch and take opponents down,” Dumont analyzed. “Against Kayla, who is significantly larger and more experienced in that area, this poses a problem. Kayla’s weakness, however, is her cardio. She doesn`t have the stamina for three full rounds. She exerts high energy in bursts during the first and second rounds, and less so in the third. Her cardio isn`t great.”
“If Harrison applies pressure in the early rounds, she could finish the fight with ground and pound or a submission attempt. I believe that’s possible, as Julianna might struggle with Kayla’s size. However, if the fight goes beyond the third round, Julianna could become a problem because she’s persistent. Despite being lighter, she has excellent cardio, is very resilient, and has many tricks up her sleeve. Even in the fights against Amanda where Amanda dominated, Amanda still ended up with cuts on her face. If Kayla is smart, she’ll apply pressure early in the fight.”
