UFC featherweight fighter Norma Dumont believes that she could keep the weight class alive following Amanda Nunes‘ retirement and has suggested potential matchups against Irene Aldana and Germaine de Randamie, while also considering a move down to bantamweight if the UFC isn’t interested in activiating the division.
As one of the consistent fighters in the women’s UFC featherweight category, Norma Dumont is conscious of the role she plays in the division’s future. This came to the fore during Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 77 event. Dumont, who was scheduled to fight against Chelsea Chandler at the UFC APEX, offered a solution to keep the 145-pound category alive, following the retirement of the two-division queen, Amanda Nunes. She suggested she be allowed to compete for the vacant throne before the year closes.
Dumont made a proposition during an episode of Trocação Franca, suggesting how to invigorate the division right away. She proposed a match between her and Irene Aldana, or she could compete against Germaine De Randamie, the first featherweight champion who’s making a return. The latter won the 145-pound belt before giving birth to her son. She never got to defend it and last fought in October 2020, where she choked out Julianna Pena. Aldana, on the other hand, lost to Nunes in a recent bantamweight title match. As for Dumont, she emerged victorious in decision wins over Danyelle Wolf and Karol Rosa, improving her record to 5-2 under the company.
Dumont expressed her anticipation about UFC’s possible future actions. She said, “I think the UFC might give up [on this division] after [July] 15th. If there’s any hope, the hope is on July 15, and I’m going there to once again defend the division, but I plan to put on a show.” She hopes her performance might earn her a top contender at 135 or a title shot at 145. Dumont wasn’t surprised when Nunes retired since she herself had planned to wait for a title shot after defeating Rosa in April but was advised by UFC to stay active. She interpreted that as an indication that UFC knew Nunes would retire. Dumont felt that Nunes was “a bit” selfish in her retirement decision.
Dumont did not hesitate to voice her feelings about Nunes’ decision. “I understand her call, but I also think she had no interest in defending the 145 title because she knew that by retiring, she would kill the division,” Dumont said. She believes Nunes decided to shutter the division with her retirement. Dumont further said that Nunes’ statement that there would no longer be a champion, meant nothing to her, as Nunes never fought against her. “If you want to, come out from retirement and get the belt, but life moves on – not at 145, because they will probably shut it off, but life will go on at 135,” Dumont warned. Regardless of the fate of both weight categories, Dumont vows to make a resounding impression at her Saturday night fight to pitch her name for a UFC championship belt. She believes the pressure is on her to dominate the fight against Chelsea Chandler, to solidify her chance to fight a top-five bantamweight next.