What’s next for Norma Dumont following victory over Felicia Spencer?
Norma Dumont just turned in the most impressive performance of her young mixed martial arts career at UFC Vegas 27.
After being KO’d by Megan Anderson in her promotional debut, she’s won her last two-straight over the likes of Ashlee Evans-Smith and former Invicta champion, as well as former UFC title challenger, Felicia Spencer.
It may have only been a split decision victory, but it was her real coming-out party.
Spencer was the No. 1 contender at 145 lbs, she’d only ever lost to the two women’s GOATS, Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes, and she was a big favorite coming in.
Now Dumont has put her name on the other side of Spencer’s record, making things look pretty bright for this Brazilian prospect.
Following the biggest victory of her career, what’s next for Norma Dumont?
Well, she did state that she wanted to move back down to bantamweight, where she started her career.
Her first four bouts were contested at 135 lbs, the fourth of which came over longtime veteran, former NCE flyweight champion Mariana Morais. Then came her UFC debut, a featherweight bout, before she moved back down to bantamweight for the Evans-Smith fight.
Dumont missed weight by 3.5 lbs for that encounter, and was forced back up to 145 lbs. Now, she feels she has the tools to cut the weight properly and efficiently.
Honestly though, coming off a great win like she is, who wouldn’t want to see a rematch between her and Anderson?
Anderson is coming off a first-round submission defeat to UFC women’s bantamweight & featherweight champion Amanda Nunes, but before that was coming off two incredibly impressive first-round finishes, one of which was over Dumont.
Anderson was bigger than her, standing 6′ with a 72” reach, while Dumont is 5’7” with a 67” reach, but she isn’t making her UFC debut anymore, she’s so much better than she was in February of last year when she first fought Anderson.
Why not take up a chance to avenge your only career defeat before taking over another division?
That being said, should she move back down to 135 lbs, who should she face?
If a title’s what Dumont is chasing, either weight class works, because the champion holds both belts.
However, featherweight would be a much shorter road to the title. For instance, should she rematch Anderson, she’ll be awarded a title shot at 145 lbs indefinitely. Moving back down to 135 lbs though, it’ll take a little more work.
Not much more though, Nunes has also cleaned that division out, there aren’t many new faces for her.
Actually, there’s one new face, the next bantamweight title challenger, The Ultimate Fighter 18 winner Julianna Pena, who’s only won one-straight to secure a title shot.
Back to the topic though… Should Dumont move back down, who should she fight?
There are a lot of great names for her here.
From former UFC champion and multi-time world champion boxer Holly Holm, to multi-time kickboxing world champion Germaine de Randamie, to other great strikers like Bea Malecki and Irene Aldana.
There’s also former amateur boxer Pannie Kianzad, there’s fellow prodigy Macy Chiasson, there are a lot of great fights that could be made.
The de Randamie and Holm bouts should wait until Dumont’s fought, and won at least once at 135 lbs, but honestly, she could fight either of them at 145 lbs as well, as both have switched up weight divisions.
Aldana is facing Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 264, and Chiasson is facing Aspen Ladd at UFC Fight Night 193.
Should either of them win, they’d make a great next opponent for Dumont.
Lastly, there are two left that’d make for great fights with this beautiful Brazilian striking sensation, and that’s her versus the ultra-durable Raquel Pennington or 3-0 professional kickboxer Julija Stoliarenko, another former Invicta champion.
Who would you like to see Norma Dumont face next?
