Norma Dumont isn’t pleased with UFC’s choices on the prime of the bantamweight division.
Raquel Pennington beat Mayra Bueno Silva to win the 135-pound championship in January and places it on the road—for the primary time almost 9 months—when she faces Julianna Peña within the co-main occasion of UFC 307 on Oct. 5. Peña hasn’t fought in 25 months, when she misplaced a title bout to Amanda Nunes.
At Saturday’s UFC 306 occasion in Las Vegas, Dumont faces Irene Aldana with the goal of extending her successful streak to 5. Even then, she doesn’t count on her subsequent bout to be for the belt.
“I extremely doubt [I’m next] due to this ridiculous Julianna vs. Raquel battle,” Dumont stated in an interview with MMA Preventing. “Julianna, for the love of God… Julianna was out for two-and-a-half years, operating from everyone, after which was gifted this battle with Pennington. It’s going to be arduous to observe.”
Peña was the one lady to beat Nunes throughout her run as UFC champion, submitting “The Lioness” in 2021 however then dropping the rematch. Dumont doesn’t suppose anybody ought to put an excessive amount of inventory on Peña’s feat to start with.
“Not taking any advantage away from Julianna, however Amanda wasn’t properly that night time,” Dumont stated. “Amanda got here again and put a beating on her. That was a beating for 5 folks and Julianna took all the things by herself. She was licking her wounds for two-and-a-half years and was nonetheless rewarded with a title shot? Come on, man. Why not give it to Irene then, who additionally received beat up by Amanda however not less than stayed on the ft for 5 rounds, not less than making an attempt to threaten till the very finish? And got here again to beat Karol Rosa? Nah, give to Julianna, who went hiding for two-and-a-half years.”
“I feel Pennington wins for being extra full and being more durable than Julianna,” she continued. “The winner of Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen [Vieira at UFC 307] is smart for the subsequent in line as a result of [the UFC] put Kayla proper there regardless that she has solely crushed an over-the-hill [Holly Holm]. However she’s American, she’s an Olympic champion, and we all know how the sport works. We’ll must battle by that. Or possibly Ketlen wins they usually lastly give her the shot. No approach she beats Kayla they usually don’t do it, proper? However I don’t count on her to win due to the matchup. They’ve related kinds however Kayla is far stronger and bigger than her.”
Dumont is assured that she’s going to win towards Aldana and in the end battle as soon as once more to enter the dialogue for gold. She predicts that Pennington beats Peña after which faces Harrison, with the two-time Olympic gold medalist rising victorious.
“After which I’ll in all probability battle Julianna or Ketlen subsequent,” Dumont stated. “Or possibly Macy [Chiasson]. However since we already fought — though it was at 145 [pounds], I don’t know if they’d do it once more. There’s no different battle for me than the belt if I beat [Aldana and then] certainly one of these three, Julianna, Macy or Ketlen. Kayla could have nowhere to cover, she must battle me.”
Dumont stated she hopes to be paired up towards Peña in early 2025, and advises Peña to rethink her combating profession if she’s towards that concept.
“Go away and retire already,” Dumont stated. “Julianna is the one I would love to place a beating on. I don’t like Julianna, and it will tremendous fascinating for me. Macy and Ketlen, that may be simply work.”
Aldana is standing in her method to the highest, although Dumont isn’t nervous about presumably coping with enemy territory vibes at Sphere, with the UFC celebrating Mexican Independence Day that night time.
“It clearly is a tribute to Mexicans but it surely’s in Las Vegas, and Las Vegas is my dwelling,” Dumont stated. “I fought eight instances in Las Vegas and by no means misplaced. I agreed to battle her in Mexico Metropolis earlier this 12 months so I don’t care. I’m combating Irene, not the gang, so I’m much more snug combating in Vegas. I’m simply knocking off the obstacles on my method to get the place I would like: the belt. The UFC is pushing me nearer to the highest and everyone’s prey to be there, and I’m on a hunt.”
Dumont has received her previous 4 fights through resolution, together with a current victory over ex-UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie, whereas Aldana rebounded from a title bout loss to Nunes with a unanimous resolution towards Karol Rosa in late 2023. Aldana has by no means been completed in 13 octagon appearances, and Dumont received’t give away her technique.
“It’s state secret,” Dumont stated with fun. “There’s quite a lot of Brazilians on her staff watching my Instagram. I noticed them the day this battle received booked. I see you all, daily [laughs]. However I’ve the abilities to beat Irene all over the place, each on the ft and on the bottom. Irene has good boxing and heavy palms, however she has holes on her putting, towards the cage, and holes on the bottom. We’ll exploit that with all my weapons to beat her.”
