The UFC strawweight division prepares for an electrifying co-main event at UFC 292 in Boston all eyes are on the championship clash
The UFC strawweight division prepares for an electrifying co-main event at UFC 292 in Boston all eyes are on the championship clash between Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos. The last woman to defeat Lemos, Jessica Andrade is predicting an upset in the making as Lemos challenges Weili for the coveted strawweight championship.
Andrade tapped Lemos with a standing arm-triangle choke in April 2022 and witnessed Lemos’ remarkable comeback with two consecutive finishes over Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Marina Rodriguez. This impressive streak earned Lemos a shot at the reigning champion Zhang Weili.
Having previously faced the power of Weili, Andrade lost the UFC championship to the Chinese star via a first-round knockout in 2019. However, she believes that Lemos might pose a different threat, particularly in the striking department.
“Andrade previously felt the power of Weili, losing the UFC championship to the Chinese star via first-round knockout in 2019. But she said Lemos could be a bigger threat on the feet.
‘Amanda Lemos is very tough,‘ Andrade said on a recent episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocação Franca. “Her striking is very, very hard. If Weili doesn’t be careful, doesn’t take her down, or doesn’t work well with her jiu-jitsu, I believe Lemos becomes the new champion because of the power she has. She’s very, very strong.“
Drawing from her own experiences, Andrade believes that Lemos’ striking prowess could be a game-changer in the bout. The prediction is based on Lemos’ ability to capitalize on her power and Andrade suggests that Weili will need to employ a well-rounded strategy to counter Lemos’ strengths.
“I’ve fought both, I got hit hard by both,” she laughed, “and I’ll tell you this: Lemos hits harder than Weili. If Weili doesn’t use the right strategy and work on the ground, finds the timing to shoot for takedowns, it will end badly for her.”
Amanda Lemos has been making waves in the strawweight division with an impressive record of seven wins in eight bouts since moving down to the weight class in December 2019. Her streak includes a trio of first-round finishes showcasing her dynamism and power. A victory against Weili, who has halted formidable opponents like Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and Jessica Aguilar. It would mark a significant upset.
Andrade firmly stands by her prediction highlighting Lemos’ strengths as the key factor in the potential upset. She believes that if the fight extends past the second or third rounds Lemos has the advantage. While acknowledging Weili’s experience in going the distance. Andrade emphasizes the raw power Lemos brings to the octagon.
“This is my pick – I think Lemos wins,” Andrade said. “If it goes past the second or third rounds, Lemos wins. I don’t know if Lemos can do five rounds with Weili, she’s been doing this for a few years now, but in terms of power, if Weili doesn’t work against the fence and gets Lemos tired, it will definitely be a knockout in the second or third round.”
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