All that bad blood for that?
After nearly three years of callouts, social media shots and genuine animosity, Norma Dumont and Ailin Perez finally settled their differences last night (Sat., Sept. 26, 2026) at UFC Vegas 121 inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unfortunately, the highly anticipated grudge match absolutely did not deliver. Despite all the heated trash talk — and Dumont throwing condoms and money at Perez during their final faceoff — the Bantamweight contenders produced an awful, low-output
fight that was painful to watch for long stretches. The most entertaining moment may have come after the final horn when security was forced to separate them.
Perez found her most definitive success in the opening round, landing an early combination before securing a takedown and controlling Dumont on the ground. Dumont responded with a stronger second frame, stuffing Perez’s wrestling attempts, scoring a takedown of her own and landing the cleaner punches.
That left the fight hanging on an incredibly close — and mostly uneventful — third round.
Perez briefly controlled Dumont against the fence late, but the Brazilian continued pressing forward and appeared to land the more meaningful strikes. Many watching believed Dumont had done just enough to secure the victory.
The judges disagreed, unanimously awarding Perez the fight with three identical 29-28 scorecards.
Dumont was stunned by the verdict and made it clear afterward that she had no intention of quietly accepting it.
“Guys, the fight just ended, and for me, it was one of the biggest absurdities I’ve ever seen in MMA,” Dumont said in Portuguese on Instagram. “For me, the second round was clear, and in the third, the Argentine did nothing. She went to the hospital to get her head checked because of how f—ked up she is.”
“She did nothing in the third round. Nothing — and she knows it,” Dumont continued. “I was knocking her around and talking to her. I was hitting her and talking to her, and she was desperate. I was well aware that I won the second round without a shadow of a doubt. It was one of the biggest absurdities I’ve ever seen in MMA, and in all sincerity, I do not accept this.”
Controversial or not, the result will remain on Dumont’s record. The loss is her second straight and delivers a significant blow to her Bantamweight title hopes.
Meanwhile, Perez extended her winning streak and moved another step closer to a potential championship opportunity — even if she hardly made a convincing case for one Saturday night.
All in all, it was another bad-blood matchup that ended up sucking.
Bummer.
For complete UFC Vegas 121 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
