Ailin Perez has revealed details of a heated confrontation with Norma Dumont at the UFC Performance Institute, claiming the Brazilian approached her near the bathrooms with several friends and threatened to knock her out.

The revelation comes just days before the two finally settle their long-running rivalry inside the Octagon at UFC Vegas 121 this Saturday. Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Perez recalled the incident, which she says took place nearly a year ago.

“Norma is a dirty person because at the PI when she ‘beat’ Ketlen Vieira, because in my opinion she lost that fight, but she won,” Perez said. “She came looking for me in the PI bathroom with all her friends; there were a bunch of girls, talking about how I’m going to be next, that she’s going to knock me out.

“And I said: ‘Ok, fine, let’s go, I’m waiting for that fight, why not?’ And then my friends came in too to separate us a little because we kind of wanted to fight a little, but she has no code.”

According to the 31-year-old, the confrontation happened just after Dumont had defeated Ketlen Vieira by split decision at UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama on November 1, 2025. Perez wasn’t competing on the card, but she revealed that she was at the UFC PI at the time.

The incident appears to have added another layer to a rivalry that had already been brewing for years. In fact, Perez recalled another tense encounter with Dumont from 2023.

Perez and Dumont shared the UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Bueno Silva card in July 2023, with both women picking up victories. Perez defeated Ashlee Evans-Smith, while Dumont edged Chelsea Chandler.

After their respective fights, the two had a heated faceoff, according to Perez.

“It also happened when we shared a card a few years ago,” Perez added. “She fought, and I fought too, and we had a staredown. A little bit of ego, Argentina, Brazil. Inside the octagon, I’m going to respect her, you know? The door closes, and that’s it, whatever happens, happens, right? But outside of all that, she’s a woman who has no code.”

Dumont has also recently offered her side of the feud. The Brazilian accused Perez of secretly recording her training sessions at the Performance Institute and went on to describe the Argentine as “mentally ill.”

Beyond the competitive side of their animosity, there’s a personal side, too. Perez claimed that Dumont’s boyfriend, UFC middleweight Marco Tulio, checked her out at UFC PI. However, the Brazilian subsequently claimed that her boyfriend blocked Perez on social media after the Argentine repeatedly tagged him.

The bad blood has also spilled into the UFC PI before. Perez previously had an altercation with Joselyne Edwards at the institute ahead of UFC Vegas 82 in 2023.

Now, with Perez and Dumont finally booked to fight, the Argentine has another accusation to make. She claims Dumont repeatedly declined opportunities to face her before finally accepting their upcoming matchup.

Ailin Perez accuses Noma Dumont of turning down their fight

Perez says she has wanted to fight Dumont for years but claims the Brazilian repeatedly rejected the matchup. According to the Argentine, the most recent instance came when Dumont fought Macy Chiasson at UFC Fight Night Mexico in February.

“She turned down fighting me many times,” she added in the same interview. “The last time she said no was in Mexico, when I fought Macy. And look, she lost to Macy Chiasson, she lost to Joselyne Edwards, and those girls are my daughters. So, strategically and statistically, this fight is mine, you know?”

Dumont has not specifically addressed Perez’s claim that she turned down the fight before UFC Mexico City. However, the Brazilian has previously accused Perez of being the one who “ran away” from the matchup.

At this point, neither fighter appears interested in settling that particular argument outside the Octagon. Their fight is finally official after more than three years of simmering tensions, and Perez has made it clear what she wants when the cage door closes.

“And whether she says I turned it down, or I say she turned it down or she’s scared, none of that matters,” Perez added. “What matters is that on September 26th, we are going to fight. I am ready to finish Norma Dumont. That’s what matters to me, you know?”

The rivalry gives this week’s UFC Vegas card an added storyline, particularly with both fighters positioned near the top of the women’s bantamweight division.

Dumont currently sits at No. 2, while Perez is ranked No. 4. That means the stakes extend beyond their personal feud, with a win potentially strengthening either fighter’s case for a future title opportunity.

With years of bad blood, accusations traded outside the cage and a heated confrontation at the UFC PI now part of the buildup, Perez and Dumont finally have the chance to settle their differences where it matters most, inside the Octagon.