TLDR
- Kevin Vallejos defended Ailin Perez’s unanimous decision victory over Norma Dumont at UFC Vegas 121, scoring it 29-28 for Perez
- Vallejos called the robbery claims ‘impossible’ and said Perez deserves a title shot after extending her winning streak to seven fights
- The Argentine fighter recently reached number nine in UFC featherweight rankings after stopping Giga Chikadze and Josh Emmett
- Vallejos called out the featherweight division in September 2026, asking ‘Who wants these hands?’ while criticizing fighters who avoid tough matchups
- He holds a 17-1 professional record with 13 knockouts and has won seven straight fights in the UFC
Sources: yardbarker.com | sportscapemagazine.com | cagesidepress.com
UFC featherweight Kevin Vallejos has defended Ailin Perez’s controversial unanimous decision victory over Norma Dumont at UFC Vegas 121. The bantamweight bout ended with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 for Perez, leaving Dumont stunned at the scorecards.
When fellow Uruguayan fighter Gaston Reyno supported Perez’s win on social media, Vallejos added his own assessment of the fight. “I agree, I saw the fight 29-28 for Ailin,” Vallejos posted on X. “Impossible that it was a robbery.”
The 24-year-old Argentine continued his defense of his countryman by breaking down the close contest. “It was close in the 3rd round but I felt like Ailin made a bit more of a difference,” Vallejos wrote. “She deserves to fight for the title.”
29-28 all for Ailin Perez 🇦🇷
[ #UFCVegas121 | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/nYhhtpKHcE
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 27, 2026
Perez Extends Winning Streak Despite Controversy
The fight featured heavy clinch work and scattered striking throughout three rounds. Perez improved her professional record to 14-2 with the victory and extended her winning streak to seven fights.
Perez now holds the second-longest active winning streak in UFC women’s bantamweight history. Dumont has criticized the decision on social media and has now lost two straight fights.
Vallejos scored the bout identically to all three official judges at UFC Vegas 121. His support for Perez comes as he continues his own rise through the UFC featherweight rankings.
Vallejos Climbs Rankings After Major Victories
The Argentine fighter recently reached number nine in the UFC featherweight rankings after two major victories. He stopped Giga Chikadze with a spinning backfist at 1:29 of the second round on December 13, 2025.
Vallejos followed that performance with an even bigger win over former interim title challenger Josh Emmett. He stopped Emmett by TKO at 3:33 of the first round on March 14, 2026.
After reaching the top ten, Vallejos called out the rest of the featherweight division on September 22, 2026. “Who wants these hands?” he wrote on X.
Vallejos thanked both Emmett and Chikadze for giving him the opportunity to prove himself against ranked opponents. “I am very grateful to Josh Emmett and Giga Chikadze because they gave me the chance to get closer to the top by being behind them,” he posted.
The young fighter criticized other ranked competitors for avoiding difficult matchups. “It is disappointing to see multiple ranked fighters try to hold their ranking spot without fighting,” Vallejos wrote. “I will never be one of them.”
Emmett had acknowledged the nature of his matchup with Vallejos before their fight at UFC Vegas 114. “He’s a young prospect, he’s had success. He’s 3-0 in the UFC right now, and the UFC wants to test him,” Emmett said during media day.
The 41-year-old veteran understood his role in the matchup. “They know what they’re going to get with me. There’s a reason they’re putting us in a small octagon, two guys that are going to stand there and box,” Emmett explained.
Vallejos now holds a professional record of 17-1 with 13 knockout victories. He trains at Team Lucas Mineiro and has won seven straight fights across his UFC career.
