LAS VEGAS – Chelsea Chandler plans on bringing the fight to Norma Dumont.
Chandler (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) takes on Dumont (9-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a featherweight bout on Saturday’s main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Chandler isn’t a fan of Dumont’s style but thinks her game plan will make for an exciting fight and lead to a finish.
“She kind of plays it boring sometimes,” Chandler told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 49 media day. “She plays it safe, and I plan on going forward and putting it to her. So, if I go out there and do what I want, I feel like I’m going to rag-doll her and make her tired, and I’m hoping for a KO, Round 2.”
With UFC president Dana White saying that the featherweight division will likely be retired due to Amanda Nunes recently retiring, Chandler hopes that an emphatic finish of Dumont saves the division – especially since she doesn’t see other fighters putting on exciting performances.
“I understand why the featherweight division is going away,” Chandler said. “I mean, you’ve got Norma who’s fighting these boring fights, and she’s pitter-pattering. Nobody wants to see that. So, they want a heavy-hitter that’s going to go out there and take someone’s head off, and I think I can be that person.
“If I’m not, I would love to fight at bantamweight, too. I’m prepared to fight at either. I like featherweight. I think I’m heavier, my shots are harder, and I can take girls out. But we’ll see what the UFC wants to do after this performance.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.
