The UFC Apex in Las Vegas is set to host a women’s bantamweight grudge match on September 26, as ESPNKnockout’s fighter-turned-commentator Gaston Reyno officially dropped the news for UFC Fight Night 289. This isn’t just a regular fight card; this is a showdown that’s been cooking since 2024, and one of these fighters is coming in with some serious momentum, possibly making history.
Perez’s Historic Streak and the Grudge
Ailin Perez, the Argentinian sensation, has been gunning for this fight for years, even famously calling it “the war of the asses” in a past interview with MMA Junkie. And who can blame her for being so confident? She’s riding the longest winning stretch of her professional career, a blistering six-fight tear, all at 135 pounds. That streak is no joke, because it technically puts her in a tie with none other than Ronda Rousey for the second-longest win streak in women’s bantamweight history! Think about that for a second. Only Amanda Nunes, with nine consecutive victories, has more in the division.
Perez confirmed this potential title eliminator herself on Instagram, showing just how ready she is for this high-stakes affair. She originally kicked off her win streak by defeating Joselyne Edwards in 2024, and she hasn’t looked back since. Even a missed weight against Darya Zheleznyakova couldn’t stop her streak from being counted as a bantamweight contest by the promotion.
Dumont’s Road to Redemption
On the other side of the octagon is Brazil’s Norma Dumont, who has her own story coming into this one. She’s fresh off a decision loss to Joselyne Edwards in April, which snapped her own considerable win streak. Dumont has actually suggested that this matchup was presented to Perez in the past and was turned down, adding another layer to this rivalry.
Dumont has proven she can go the distance, with a remarkable 11 straight decisions since getting her chin checked by Megan Anderson in her promotional debut. She picked up three straight victories at 135 pounds from 2024 to 2025, even notching wins at featherweight before that division was shuttered. This fight is a chance for Dumont to get back on track and prove that she’s still a top contender in the logjammed bantamweight division.
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