Two Brazilian fighters, Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba, are set to take center stage in Las Vegas this Saturday for the main event of UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex. This highly anticipated bout could pave the way towards a title shot in the UFC women's strawweight division.
Amanda Lemos: A Knockout Threat
Amanda Lemos, boasting a record of 14-3-1, is known as one of the fiercest knockout artists in the strawweight division. Her ability to deliver decisive knockdowns makes her a formidable opponent. Despite suffering a decision loss to Zhang Weili, Lemos demonstrated resilience by bouncing back with a decision victory over Mackenzie Dern. Her unwavering determination to improve and rectify her mistakes is evident in her statement, "It was an amazing opportunity and a dream come true. I learned a lot. We watched all my mistakes. I saw all the situations and errors that were made. I trained a lot to make sure I didn't commit them again."
With a clear focus on continual improvement, Lemos has worked tirelessly to enhance her skills. She shared her perspective on winning and evolving as a fighter, saying, "I'm a fighter that wants to finish time. I want to get home as quickly as possible but a win is a win. The thing that I evaluate the most is how much I've evolved as a fighter. How much more improvement was there? If I'm a better fighter [than the last time], I'm happy with my performance."
Virna Jandiroba: The Submission Specialist
On the other side of the Octagon, Virna Jandiroba brings an impressive record of 20-3 and a three-fight winning streak into this contest. Jandiroba, a former Invicta champion, is renowned for her submission prowess, having finished 11 of her 14 regional fights this way. Despite her success on the regional circuit, translating that submission success to the UFC has been less consistent.
Jandiroba's debut in the UFC came in 2019 on short notice against Carla Esparza. She has since secured notable victories over Marina Rodriguez and Angela Hill. Reflecting on her journey and recent string of successes, Jandiroba emphasized the importance of mental strength. "Although the level of the girls now is extremely high -- they're very strong and tough -- I believe the biggest key to finishing more people in the division is mental. I needed more self-confidence, belief in my growth and my jiu-jitsu," she explained.
The mental transformation appears to be paying off for Jandiroba, who now exudes confidence in her ability to submit top-tier opponents. She stated, "I know I have the jiu-jitsu required to tap out many girls in the Top 10. The mental part has always been challenging and that changed a few fights ago. I think I'm going towards that line of being able to submit more people."
Path to the Title
Both Lemos and Jandiroba have set their sights on the UFC women's strawweight crown, currently held by Zhang Weili. Weili is expected to defend her title against the unbeaten Tatiana Suarez, who holds a perfect 10-0 record. A victory for either Lemos or Jandiroba this Saturday could significantly boost their chances of receiving a title shot in the near future.
Lemos, who has been steadily improving her performance since her loss to Zhang Weili, and Jandiroba, who has emphasized the mental aspect of fighting to great effect, are on a collision course with their title aspirations hanging in the balance. The bout promises to be an intriguing clash of styles, with Lemos' striking power going up against Jandiroba's submission skills.
As the UFC Apex prepares to host this exciting face-off, fans can expect nothing less than a high-caliber display of skill and determination from these two Brazilian contenders. With their eyes firmly locked on the prize, Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba are ready to leave it all in the Octagon for a shot at UFC glory.