SÃO PAULO — Norma Dumont desires a struggle that will get her a shot on the UFC bantamweight title, however laments the very fact it’s been so onerous getting one as of late. The Brazilian expertise gained 5 in a row within the octagon, the final two over Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana in 2024, however informed MMA Combating “I don’t know” who could possibly be subsequent for her.
“It’s very irritating as a result of I’m centered on the belt, I need the belt, that’s my aim,” Dumont mentioned. “I’m doing the whole lot with that objective, agreeing to fights that will put me on this path for the title shot, and it’s irritating that I’ve no choices now.”
Julianna Peña will defend her belt subsequent in opposition to Kayla Harrison on June 7 in Newark, and Dumont aimed for a No. 1 contender conflict with former champion Raquel Pennington, however heard from the promotion that Pennington has no timetable for a UFC return as a result of damage. Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira will meet on Could 31, leaving her with no dancing companion within the high 5.
“It might make sense to struggle somebody ranked decrease than me simply to remain lively,” Dumont mentioned, “however my aim is another after which the belt, and that wouldn’t put me up there. If I preserve combating folks ranked decrease [than me] I gained’t be within the place to struggle for the belt subsequent. I want a struggle that takes me to a title shot, in any other case I’ll simply preserve combating and never get to my closing aim.”
“I’m by no means their first possibility,” Dumont mentioned when requested why it’s so onerous getting fights. “Perhaps it’s my type, as a result of I’m extra versatile and large for the division. I feel it’s a technique. Generally it’s simpler to plan a win over different ladies. We joke it’s worry and whatnot, however I feel it’s only a technique. I’m a black belt on the bottom, a black belt on the toes. I’m an enormous athlete, a powerful athlete, I’ve cardio, so possibly I’m a sophisticated struggle for these ladies.”
Dumont mentioned she refuses to be sidelined a full yr, and expects the UFC to have a date an opponent set earlier than the tip of the month. The Brazilian expertise, who joined Chute Boxe Diego Lima in Sao Paulo after her dominant victory over Aldana in September, affords to function the backup for Peña vs. Harrison at UFC 316, and could be “supreme” to have her personal struggle on the identical card.
“We had this concept that Pennington and I might be on the identical card of the Kayla and Julianna struggle and in case one thing occurred, if the struggle falls off, I might are available in,” Dumont mentioned, “However Pennington being injured ruins everyone’s plans. Not solely my plans, however UFC’s plans. They’d plans already, and now they’re shifting the items which might be left. It will get a bit extra difficult.”
Dumont hopes she’s one win away from a title shot no matter who’s her subsequent opponent given the physique of labor up to now within the UFC, however the return of the legendary two-division champion Amanda Nunes might damage these plans.
“I imagine that Kayla beats Julianna and Amanda might return,” Dumont mentioned. “To not proceed her profession, however to beat Kayla. I imagine she might return only for that, to do the Kayla struggle after which retire once more. That might be horrible for me as a result of it will decelerate the division, however there’s an actual likelihood it might occur.”
If Nunes’s return is just depending on Harrison holding the belt that when belonged to her, Dumont believes it’s solely a mater of time for it to change into actuality. She gained’t overlook Peña at UFC 316, although.
“The issue is that Julianna is just too small for the division and her type is to seize and take you down,” Dumont mentioned. “That sport, Kayla is twice her measurement and far more skilled. The issue is that Kayla’s lungs are small, she has no environment friendly cardio for 3 rounds. She lasts one spherical and a half. She sprints twice within the first, as soon as within the second, and solely as soon as within the third. She doesn’t have a lot cardio.
“If [Harrison] places stress within the first and second rounds, she will be able to finish with floor and pound or with some stress to submit. I imagine that would occur, Julianna being unable to deal with Kayla’s measurement, but when the struggle will get previous the third spherical Julianna generally is a downside as a result of she might be annoying. She’s lighter, however she has nice cardio, she’s very sturdy and has many ideas. The Amanda fights, even the one Amanda destroyed her, Amanda got here out with cuts on her face. If Kayla is wise, she places stress early within the first rounds.”
