Norma Dumont’s victory over Chelsea Chandler at UFC Vegas 77 might be her final combat at featherweight. The proficient Brazilian advised MMA Combating that she plans to maneuver as much as bantamweight after being advised by the UFC that its 145-pound division might be shutting down within the coming months.
“They stated, ‘Look, there’s actually nobody else to combat, Norma,'” Dumont stated. “It’s ineffective to combat in opposition to decrease degree athletes. (They stated,) ‘The fact is there is no such thing as a one else.’ It actually does not make sense to me and to (the UFC).
Amanda Nunes was the champion of each bantamweight and featherweight divisions previous to her retirement, and this advertising angle was the principle purpose the corporate didn’t shut down the burden class after Cris Cyborg reduce ties with the promotion. Nunes has sometimes defended the 145-pound throne, however bantamweight has all the time been his actual residence.
The UFC has no featherweight matches presently booked, and most of its latest 145-pound bouts have featured bantamweights who both struggled to realize weight or agreed to combat on brief discover and required a weight change, resembling Josiane Nunes, Karol Rosa and Yana Santos.
Zarah Fairn was one of many few full-time featherweights signed by the UFC, and he or she is transferring as much as bantamweight for the primary time to satisfy Hailey Cowan at UFC Paris in September. Dumont laughed on the concept of Fairn gaining 136 kilos and stated she expects the combat to ultimately be moved to 145 kilos.
Fairn advised MMA Combating that she was determined in her bantamweight transfer.
“It occurs loads,” Dumont stated. “They announce a combat (at 135) then the athlete is struggling to realize weight, they usually transfer it to 145. (UFC) stated the division might be closed in September as a result of it will likely be the final combat.
Dumont expects extra girls to satisfy at 145 kilos as a result of “they’ve signed plenty of athletes who’re struggling to make 135,” so the division would “serve athletes who cannot make 135 now,” with out crowning a brand new champion.
Dumont weighed round 163 kilos on combat evening, however was 11 kilos lighter at UFC Vegas 77 since she had already anticipated the transfer as much as bantamweight.
“I could not see the place to go and I used to be sort of drained and annoyed doing robust fights and combating and beating larger, heavier girls, however I wasn’t transferring in any route,” Dumont stated. “It’s extremely upsetting. I had spoken to the UFC about this earlier than, (that) they need to both let me go or finish the division for good and I’d attempt to come down. The way in which issues had been, it wasn’t good. I noticed no future there.
The plan going ahead now, Dumont stated, is to tackle a high bantamweight and show to the corporate that she will safely achieve 135 kilos. Dumont weighed in at 139.5 kilos in her solely try and compete at bantamweight within the UFC in 2020. She went 5-2 as a featherweight below the UFC banner.
Dumont stated she could be “very glad” to face Raquel Pennington or Irene Aldana in her subsequent combat, or possibly Holly Holm “if she does not retire.”
“The division wants a brand new lease of life,” Dumont stated. “Nobody needs to see Julianna (Peña), Pennington or Holly for the belt. They need new blood, and I see three Brazilians coming robust for the title: myself, ‘Sheetara’ (Mayra Bueno Silva) and Ketlen (Vieira). The belt will rotate between us.
