Norma Dumont celebrates Ailin Perez UFC fight for chance to do ‘what I want to do without getting arrested’

Brazilian bantamweight Norma Dumont is relishing the opportunity to settle a bitter personal feud with Argentine rival Ailin Perez at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26, with the bout slated for the preliminary card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Dumont and Perez have developed a heated rivalry that extends well beyond the octagon. Perez has employed aggressive verbal tactics in the buildup, including posting videos that take aim at Dumont's boyfriend, UFC middleweight Marco Tulio, and making claims about Dumont's training regimen. Tulio himself weighed in on the matter, criticizing Perez's promotional style as unprofessional and "bad for the sport," particularly for women's MMA. He argued that while Dumont speaks her mind authentically, Perez's approach crosses into unnecessary negativity that lacks class.

Dumont has made clear that the personal animosity fuels her fighting performance. She stated she expects to finish Perez before the final round, arguing that genuine dislike of an opponent removes her tendency to overthink and makes her more aggressive. She's called Perez "ugly, average, unpleasant" and "not a good human being," though she acknowledged Perez possesses solid wrestling skills and takedown technique, criticizing her jiu-jitsu and striking as limited.

Dumont is coming off a controversial decision loss to Joselyne Edwards in April, which she believes she should have won. A dominant victory over Perez could position her for a bantamweight title shot, particularly if the belt becomes vacant following a potential retirement fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 in November. For Dumont, the fight represents an opportunity to do legally what would otherwise require avoiding arrest—and to add another win to her professional record.