Women’s Featherweights
#15 WBW | Norma Dumont (7-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. #11 WBW | Macy Chiasson (7-2, 5-2 UFC)If nothing else, whoever wins this fight should be in good standing for whatever counts as the women’s featherweight title picture. Norma Dumont’s UFC debut was not the most promising in nature. A raw regional bantamweight who had physically overwhelmed some lower-level competition before getting the UFC call, the Brazilian was thrown into a fight against the decidedly featherweight-sized Megan Anderson and ate a knockout in short order. To her credit, “The Immortal” seems to have learned some lessons from that loss. After some weight issues proved, at least for now, that she is no longer a bantamweight, Dumont spent 2021 racking up impressive wins over Felicia Spencer and Aspen Ladd, showing some solid defensive wrestling to go along with an effective counter-heavy striking style. Both wins felt like they resulted a bit more from the flaws of her opponents than anything else, so it will be interesting to see how Dumont fares against a more offensively potent fighter. Chiasson ran through the featherweight bracket on “The Ultimate Fighter 28” in the back half of 2018, putting her on the UFC roster as a talented but green prospect who has essentially had to learn on the job. Chiasson’s tall frame and aggressive offense was enough to rack up a few wins without much trouble, but her last few fights have definitely been part of the learning curve. Chiasson ha's tried to mix in some wrestling at times but can be mistake-prone, and while she can be a terror in the clinch, her lanky frame leaves her open to being overpowered by some of the squatter fireplugs in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Dumont fits the bill as far as her build in that last regard, but she was not overwhelming enough against Spencer or Ladd to make it a given that she will be able to control this fight.
FEELY'S PREDICTION: Given that Chiasson figures to be the much more damaging—if inconsistent—striker and could make any wrestling or grappling exchange an even affair, the bet is that the American can string together enough to stay ahead on the scorecards in what might be an ugly fight. The pick is Chiasson via decision.
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