UFC Releases Top-5 Bantamweight Norma Dumont

The UFC released No. 4-ranked women's bantamweight Norma Dumont from its roster with two fights still remaining on her contract, the Brazilian announced Tuesday on Instagram.

Dumont, 36, revealed she had been warned before her last bout that the promotion would not renew her deal once her existing fights were complete. "I still had two fights left on my contract, but even before my last bout — when I still had three fights remaining — I had already received word that the UFC likely wouldn't be renewing my contract once those fights were done," she said in a video posted to social media, per a translation published by MMA Mania.

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Dumont's UFC Run Ends After Eight Years

Dumont exits the promotion with a 9-4 UFC record after dropping her last two fights. Her best stretch came in a three-fight run that saw her defeat Germaine de Randamie, Irene Aldana, and Ketlen Vieira before the recent skid. She thanked the organization for eight years and said she had been discussing retirement plans with her team over the past month. "It reached a point where I began to consider ending my career," she said, adding that she and her partner want to start a family.

The timing raises questions about the promotion's commitment to the women's bantamweight division. Kayla Harrison has discussed retirement after her scheduled title fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 334 this weekend, and the division has shown limited depth in recent years. Dumont's release follows a lackluster performance against Ailin Perez at UFC Vegas 121 in September.

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Dumont said she would prefer retirement to fielding offers from rival promotions, though she left the door slightly open with a "see you soon" message to fans.

Photo by Felipe Simo on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Goodbye Bantamweight? UFC abruptly releases Top Five ranked contender | MMA Mania