Brazil’s Dumont made her Octagon debut last February in Norfolk, Virginia, stepping in against Megan Anderson in a featherweight contest that went sideways in a hurry. Just over three minutes into her first round in the UFC, Dumont got dropped, giving Anderson the victory that catapulted her into her recent featherweight championship clash with Amanda Nunes.
Preview Saturday’s Card With A Fight-By-Fight Breakdown
Nine months later (less a day), “The Immortal” made her sophomore appearance, dropping to the bantamweight ranks and returning to the win column by out-working veteran Ashlee Evans-Smith over the course of 15 minutes. It was a much more representative showing of what Dumont brings to the cage, and sent her into this year with positive momentum.
This weekend, she makes her first start of 2021 in a clash with the promising newcomer Erin Blanchfield, who steps in for the injured Bea Malecki.
A 21-year-old grappler who has already logged six wins in seven starts, Blanchfield arrives on a three-fight winning streak, with her lone setback coming against emerging UFC prospect Tracy Cortez, making her a stern test for Dumont as she looks to build on her performance against Evans-Smith back in in November.
While both women are still in the developmental stages of their respective careers, this is a perfect measuring stick opportunity for Dumont to gauge where she stands in the 135-pound ranks. Blanchfield is a highly regarded prospect with quality experience to this stage of her career, and if Dumont can keep things moving forward by turning her back, it could earn the 30-year-old a step up in competition next time out.
