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Amanda Lemos’ last run to the title
Amanda Lemos was completely outclassed in her first title shot against incumbent champion, Weili Zhang. She was out gunned. Out wrestled. Across three scorecards, Lemos was given one round by one judge. Lemos knew she had to get better.
Amanda Lemos ride to the title
On first glance, Brazil’s Amanda Lemos has everything to become a fan favorite fighter in the women’s strawweight division. Her highlight reel boasts several finishes that make a fan question how far that power can take her. Unfortunately for Lemos, the ride to the title had not been a straight and narrow one.
When she made her UFC debut, it was a bantamweight fight. Lemos, who fights 20 pounds below that at strawweight, was outsized massively. But that’s what she had to do to get into the UFC.
After the loss, which was a second-round knockout, Lemos made the best out of her time. She choked out Miranda Granger in 2019 and followed that up with a decision win over Mizuki Inoue. In 2021, she started to add on to that highlight reel of hers and knocked out both Livinha Souza and Montserrat Ruiz, both in the first round.
She was given a shot at the top of the division, a title eliminator against the former champion Jessica Andrade. Beating a former champion is something that the UFC always looks for when pushing a fighter towards contention. She was choked out in an embarrassing manner: a standing arm triangle in round one.
Lemos didn’t let that bother her. Round two of her next fight saw Lemos choke out the always-difficult Michelle Waterson-Gomez. She finally punched her ticket with a third-round knockout of Marina Rodriguez. The stage was set for a title fight.
Coming up short
The day UFC 292 rolled around; the 36-year-old Amanda Lemos was quite optimistic. She hit hard and had learned from her past mistakes. Marina Rodriguez was a tough contender with good striking and Lemos dominated that fight from bell to bell. One more step up and she’d be champion.
Unfortunately, Weili Zhang was simply too good for the experienced Brazilian veteran. After promising to “set the octagon on fire” Lemos was outright dominated.
On the wrong side of 30, Lemos knew her time was up and that a new title shot was unlikely given how good women’s 115 was. But that thought wouldn’t win and Lemos would fight to have another shot at UFC gold.
The return: A win over Mackenzie Dern
After six months off, Amanda Lemos returned with a vengeance. She took on Mackenzie Dern at UFC 298. She jumped out to an early lead winning the fight on the scorecards.
Now, Lemos is in the eyes of another contender, this time a surging Virna Jandiroba. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert, Jandiroba is on a three-fight winning streak. Loopy Godinez, Marina Rodriguez and Angela Hill were all done in by Jandiroba. Ranked five to Lemos’ #3, Jandiroba is hoping to make a statement with a win come this weekend.
Now 37, Lemos cannot let this happen. She needs to punish Jandiroba for daring to use her as a leap to the top three of the division. A win may not get her a title shot, but it will be a second straight win and eliminating another hopeful contender.
