Norma Dumont
Division: Women’s featherweight
Result: Megan Anderson def. [autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag] via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:31
Record: (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: D
Norma Dumont arrived in the octagon for her UFC debut with no shortage of self-belief, but she left it with her confidence dented and a first loss added to her record.
Despite having no knockout wins to her name, Dumont came out aggressively at the start of the first round against towering featherweight contender Megan Anderson, as she let fly with a salvo of heavy-looking punches. But her open boxing guard was exposed when a slick Anderson jab snapped back the Brazilian’s head and led to the pair clinching against the fence.
Dumont worked hard in the clinch to force her weight against Anderson, who answered with a knee to the Brazilian’s chin. And when the pair eventually returned to the center of the cage, it was Dumont who looked noticeably the more fatigued.
That tiredness was illustrated when the Brazilian threw a slow, lazy-looking kick. Anderson saw it, and reacted accordingly as she stepped in and beat Dumont to the punch with a rapid right hand that knocked out the Brazilian.
Dumont looked strong and powerful early, but appeared to lose her explosiveness in the clinch. Then, with her speed clearly curtailed after the early exchanges, she was caught clean by a perfectly-timed punch.
Was it too much, too early for a fighter who had only four fights to their name, or was it a case of a fighter going too hard, too fast and leaving themselves open? Either way, it was Dumont’s first career defeat and one that may prompt a rethink. Bantamweight may potentially be an option for the Brazilian, but regardless of her weight class, a calmer, more considered approach in her next fight should allow us to see the best of “The Immortal” next time around.