Ailin Perez changes tone after UFC Vegas 121 and thanks Norma Dumont
The Argentine bantamweight praised her longtime rival one day after their controversial fight at UFC Vegas 121.
Ailin Perez has changed the tone toward Norma Dumont. On Saturday, the Argentine defeated the Brazilian at UFC Vegas 121 in a matchup marked by one of the most heated rivalries in the women's bantamweight division. One day after their controversial fight, Perez took to social media to thank Dumont for pushing her to become a better fighter despite the bad blood between them.
Ailin Perez Shows Respect After Controversial Win
The rivalry between Perez and Dumont isn't something new. The bantamweight contenders have had verbal exchanges since last year and were involved in a heated encounter at the UFC Performance Institute in November.
Before UFC Vegas 121, Perez and Dumont traded insults throughout fight week. Things got heated during their faceoff the day before the event, when Dumont threw condoms and dollar bills at Perez and the two fighters had to be separated by officials.
Perez and Dumont delivered a close match that could have gone either way. In the end, the Argentine earned a controversial decision victory while Dumont was visibly stunned by the result.
Following the fight, Perez changed her stance. Rather than continuing the rivalry, the Argentine took to social media and posted a message acknowledging Dumont's performance and admitting the fight was much closer than many expected.
"I would like to thank NORMA for being a tough opponent who made me grow. I truly believe I won the fight, but it was close and I know that I am a better fighter after this experience. I am grateful to have an opponent as good as Norma because she made me grow as a fighter and I will ultimately become champion because of fighting opponents like her. We don't like each other, and we probably never will. But I have respect for you as a competitor, Norma," Perez wrote on Instagram.
Perez improved her professional record to 14-2 with the victory, extending her winning streak to seven fights. Dumont, meanwhile, suffered her second consecutive defeat in her second appearance of the year.
