Dumont On Perez Fight: 'What I Want Without Getting Arrested'

Norma Dumont welcomes the chance to settle her rivalry with Ailin Perez inside the Octagon at UFC Vegas 121 this Saturday, calling the bantamweight matchup deeply personal.

Dumont told MMA Fighting that Perez avoided the fight for as long as possible before finally signing on for the Sept. 26 card at the APEX. The Brazilian said Perez has repeatedly filmed her training sessions and tried to provoke her boyfriend, UFC middleweight Marco Tulio, by tagging him in social media posts until he blocked her. Dumont dismissed the tactics as attention-seeking behavior ahead of their preliminary bout.

Dumont Ready To Settle Score With Perez

The two-time bantamweight title challenger said she's eager for a sanctioned platform to confront Perez. "I already have my date to beat her, I have my time to do what I need to do, what I want to do without getting arrested," Dumont said, per MMA Fighting. She added that fighting opponents she dislikes brings out her most aggressive performances, pointing to past wins over Chelsea Chandler and Irene Aldana as examples.

Tulio told the outlet that Perez's promotional approach lacks class and damages the sport, particularly women's MMA. He said the Chute Boxe camp is focused on bringing a victory back to Brazil rather than engaging in trash talk.

Dumont credited Perez with solid wrestling and takedown entries but called her jiu-jitsu and striking limited. The Brazilian predicted a stoppage before the final round and said the fight would not reach the 15-minute mark. Coming off a disputed loss to Joselyne Edwards in April — a decision Dumont maintains she won — she's angling for a title shot if she defeats Perez. Dumont expects the UFC 324 headliner between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes in November to leave the bantamweight belt vacant, with both fighters retiring regardless of outcome.

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