Brazilian UFC bantamweight contender Norma Dumont is expressing her frustration with the ongoing difficulty in finding a suitable opponent for her next fight. Dumont, who has secured five consecutive victories in the octagon, including impressive wins against Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana in 2024, admits she is currently in the dark regarding her next matchup.
“It’s incredibly frustrating because my focus is entirely on the championship belt,” Dumont stated. “That’s my ultimate goal. Everything I’m doing, every fight I agree to, is with the intention of moving closer to a title shot. To find myself in a position where there are no clear options available is truly disheartening.”
The current bantamweight title picture sees Julianna Peña scheduled to defend her belt against Kayla Harrison at UFC 316 on June 7th in Newark. Dumont had initially hoped for a number one contender fight against former champion Raquel Pennington. However, she was informed by the UFC that Pennington is currently sidelined with an injury and has no confirmed return date. Furthermore, with Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira set to face off on May 31st, Dumont finds herself without a top-ranked opponent.
“Logically, fighting someone ranked below me to maintain activity would make sense,” Dumont acknowledged. “However, my immediate goal is to secure one more significant win and then challenge for the title. Fighting a lower-ranked opponent wouldn`t necessarily elevate me into a title contention position. I need a fight that directly paves the way to a title shot, otherwise, I risk stagnating and not reaching my ultimate ambition.”
Addressing the reasons behind her difficulty in securing fights, Dumont speculated, “I often feel like I’m not the preferred choice for potential opponents. Perhaps it’s due to my fighting style, which is quite versatile, combined with my size for the bantamweight division. I suspect strategic matchmaking plays a role. It might be perceived as easier to secure a win against other fighters. While we joke about fighters being ‘afraid,’ I genuinely believe it`s more about strategic planning. I possess black belts in both grappling and striking. I`m a physically imposing and strong athlete with good cardio. This combination might make me a particularly challenging and complicated fight for many in the division.”
Dumont is adamant about not being inactive for an entire year and expects the UFC to finalize a fight date and opponent for her before the end of the current month. Having recently joined the renowned Chute Boxe Diego Lima team in São Paulo following her dominant victory over Aldana in September, Dumont has offered to serve as a backup fighter for the Peña vs. Harrison title fight at UFC 316. Ideally, she would like to have her own fight scheduled on the same event.
“We had considered a scenario where both Pennington and I would compete on the same card as the Kayla and Julianna fight, with me being available as a replacement should anything happen to the main event,” Dumont revealed. “However, Pennington’s injury has disrupted everyone’s plans – not just mine, but the UFC’s as well. They had existing plans, and now they are having to rearrange the pieces. It has definitely made things more complicated.”
Despite the uncertainty, Dumont remains hopeful that she is just one victory away from a coveted title shot, regardless of who her next opponent might be, considering her strong body of work in the UFC so far. However, she acknowledges that the potential return of legendary two-division champion Amanda Nunes could significantly alter the bantamweight landscape and potentially derail her title aspirations.
“I anticipate that Kayla will defeat Julianna, and this might prompt Amanda to return,” Dumont predicted. “Perhaps not for a prolonged career comeback, but specifically to avenge her loss to Kayla. I believe she might return solely for that fight and then retire again. This scenario would be detrimental to my title ambitions as it would undoubtedly slow down the division’s progress. However, it’s a very real possibility that could materialize.”
Dumont believes that if Nunes’s return is contingent on Harrison holding the bantamweight title, which Nunes previously held, then it is likely only a matter of time before it happens. However, she is careful not to underestimate Peña’s chances at UFC 316.
Analyzing the upcoming Peña vs. Harrison matchup, Dumont stated, “The challenge for Julianna is that she is undersized for the division, and her primary style revolves around grappling and takedowns. Against Kayla, who is significantly larger and more experienced in that area, this could be a major disadvantage. However, Kayla’s potential weakness lies in her cardio. She doesn’t seem to possess the endurance for a full three-round fight. She tends to exert bursts of energy in the first round and a half, but her pace noticeably drops off. Her cardio efficiency for longer fights is questionable.”
“If Harrison applies significant pressure in the opening rounds, particularly the first and second, she has the potential to finish the fight with ground and pound or secure a submission. I believe this is a likely scenario, given Julianna’s potential inability to handle Kayla’s size and strength. However, if the fight progresses beyond the third round, Julianna’s resilience could become a factor. Despite being lighter, she possesses excellent cardio, is incredibly durable, and has a number of tactical approaches. Even in her fights against Amanda Nunes, including the one where Amanda dominated, Amanda still sustained cuts to her face. If Kayla fights strategically, she should aim to apply intense pressure early in the fight.”
