Dumont Vows to End Perez Fight Before Final Round

Norma Dumont and Ailin Perez meet Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The bantamweight contenders enter the cage with a three-year history of verbal clashes and ignored calls.

The bout sits on the preliminary card, yet it carries the most tension of the event. Contracts are signed, ending a long standoff where one fighter sought the match and the other refused to engage.

Three years of ignored calls

Perez dubbed the potential matchup a battle of the asses. She sought the fight for nearly three years, but Dumont repeatedly ignored the callouts. The rivalry deepened last year when Dumont turned down a replacement opportunity.

According to Perez, Dumont blocked her on social media after rejecting the chance to fight. Now, with the contract signed, the personal anger is fully acknowledged by both sides. MMA Mania reports that no arrests are expected in Las Vegas for this clash.

Anger fuels aggressive tactics

Dumont claims the personal issues make the fight more fun. She believes anger drives her to cause damage, whereas peace leads to overthinking. She intends to focus solely on beating Perez on the 26th.

The Brazilian fighter says she will not fall for bait outside the cage. She views her opponent as having mental problems and a desire to get people worked up. Dumont states that her lack of shame in personal life is irrelevant to the fight.

Promise of a quick finish

Dumont guarantees the fight will not last fifteen minutes. She aims to stop Perez before the final round, which would mark her first finish inside the Octagon. This promise contrasts with her recent unanimous decision loss to Joselyne Edwards.

Perez enters with six consecutive victories, having snapped a losing streak in her UFC debut. Dumont lost a six-fight winning streak in her last outing. The bad blood is real, and the cage is the only place it matters.