Norma Dumont: Bantamweight cut ‘not impossible,’ but next UFC fight will be at 145
Norma Dumont is done with the bantamweight division — for now.
The Brazilian fighter, who missed weight twice in a row for 135-pound fights in the UFC, spent a few days consulting with specialists over at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas after the cancellation of her fight with Erin Blanchfield in April, and was advised to move up to featherweight until she can move in full time to Las Vegas or figure out a healthy weight cut.
“I made a deal with the UFC,” Dumont said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “They want me to stay at 135 pounds, training at the PI. However, since I don’t have money to stay here [in Las Vegas], we asked for a fight at 145 pounds for July so the PI has enough time to work on my weight [cut].”
According to Dumont, the UFC is currently working on getting her a featherweight fight for the July 17 card.
“The PI said I need at least four months for my body to adapt to the new weight,” she said. “I’m too strong for the [bantamweight] division and I have dense bones. Making 135 pounds is not impossible, but I need specific training and diet to make it.”
Dumont signed with the UFC as a featherweight but lost her octagon debut to Megan Anderson in February 2020. “The Immortal” missed weight by 3.5 pounds for her next bout at bantamweight, defeating Ashlee Evans-Smith via decision.
Another three-pound miss forced the cancellation of her fight with Blanchfield earlier this month. Hours after the official UFC Vegas 23 weigh-ins, Dumont told MMA Fighting the UFC PI would do “some studies with me and see how I’ll continue in this weight class.”
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