In the event you thought the MMA schedule for Saturday was completed after the afternoon slate wrapped, you’re incorrect. Seven hours of aggressive violence within the daytime is only the start of a marathon day. MMA’s high promotion returns to reside motion within the night.
Per week faraway from a return go to to Denver, the UFC stays on the West Coast and goes again dwelling to Las Vegas for an additional Combat Night time on the UFC Apex. Stay protection of UFC Vegas 94 begins at 5 pm ET/ 2 pm PT on ESPN2 and ESPN+ with the prelims.
Major card motion instantly follows at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN correct and ESPN+. All informed, absent of any postponements or cancellations between now and Saturday, the ultimate model of UFC Vegas 94 encompasses a full 12-fight card.
Strawweights Take Highlight in UFC Vegas 94 Major Occasion
Highlighting the evening’s actions is a top-5 contest at strawweight within the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion. No. 3 contender Amanda Lemos (14-3-1 MMA, 8-3 UFC) meets No. 5 contender Virna Jandiroba (20-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC).
As with all UFC fundamental occasions, the UFC Vegas 94 headliner is an marketed most of 5 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
Tied for the second most finishes in strawweight historical past 👀
🇧🇷 Amanda Lemos seems to be so as to add to the report books within the #UFCVegas94 fundamental occasion! pic.twitter.com/iH01rmpVsL
— UFC (@ufc) July 17, 2024
UFC Vegas 94 Major Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion on Saturday evening, Amanda Lemos stands because the taller contestant at 5-foot-4, in comparison with the 5-foot-3 body of Virna Jandiroba. The previous owns a one-inch attain benefit (65 inches to 64 inches) over the latter, with Jandiroba proudly owning a one-inch leg attain benefit (37 inches to 36 inches) over Lemos.
Presently, the oddsmakers have Virna Jandiroba put in as a -140 favourite on the cash line, with Amanda Lemos countering as a +115 underdog. In the event you plan on betting on this or every other battle taking place in MMA this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Lemos Hungry for Second Straight Win Saturday Night time
Amanda Lemos enters the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion this weekend having posted a report of 3-2 in her final 5 fights. Again in February, she returned to the win column by way of unanimous resolution over Mackenzie Dern (13-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in UFC 298.
Lately, the No. 3 contender at 115 lbs. was interviewed by USA At this time’s MMA Junkie, mentioning that the location of the battle is immaterial to her.
“I method each battle the identical,” Lemos started, by way of her translator. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the primary, second battle on the cardboard, if it’s a co-main or a fundamental occasion. I method all of them the identical. They’re all essential to me. That is my life. This has been my life. It doesn’t matter what the standing of the battle [is] to me, I method it with the identical coaching degree, all the time on the lookout for the win.”
Lemos is a fighter who’s firmly within the title dialog at strawweight going into Saturday evening, however can she be certain that she receives a rematch towards Zhang Weili for the UFC Strawweight Championship? Solely time will inform.
Virna Jandiroba Needs to Cease Amanda Lemos
Within the different nook, Virna Jandiroba has gone 4-1 in her final 5 MMA fights. At current, she’s on a three-fight successful streak.
On March 30, she scored a unanimous resolution victory over Lupita Godinez (12-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in UFC Atlantic Metropolis. Like Lemos, Jandiroba gave a translated interview to MMA Junkie this week. She’s centered on getting the win over Lemos inside the space.
“Within the UFC, we all know {that a} end is all the time higher than a call– they [the fans] like that,” Jandiroba started. “So, I do know that if I’m capable of get a end over Amanda Lemos going to be a lot, a lot nearer to a title battle than if I win by resolution. Though, she’s a really powerful opponent. I believe a win is a win, over her, particularly, however a end for positive would push me ahead much more.”
Typically in MMA, a fighter simply getting their hand raised on the finish of a contest isn’t all the time sufficient to obtain the next rating. Whereas Jandiroba enters this weekend at No. 5 within the strawweight division, a fourth straight victory alone may not lead to her being one bout away from a title shot.
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion seems to be to favor Virna Jandiroba, who owns a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a inexperienced and white Prajied in Muay-Thai, in comparison with Amanda Lemos’ standing as a jiu-jitsu fighter and former judoka.
Lemos Can Punch Her Method to Victory
Statistically talking, Amanda Lemos has scored eight of her 14 profession victories by means of knockout. When Lemos stops her opponent, like she did in November of 2022 versus Marina Rodriguez at the exact same UFC Apex the place UFC Vegas 94 happened, it may be a sight to behold.
Through the third spherical of a scheduled battle, as this was the night’s headlining bout, Lemos started by touchdown a proper hand earlier than scoring once more with a jab. From there, she went again to the proper, wobbling Rodriguez within the course of.
Smelling blood within the water, she moved in on her adversary and simply peppered her with photographs earlier than referee Mario Yamasaki waved off the competition. If she will land the right-handed punch, the following title on Amanda Lemos’ dance card simply could be Zhang Weili.
Jandiroba Can Finish a Combat Shortly
Within the different nook, don’t look away from the display when Virna Jandiroba enters the cage for the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion. You simply may find yourself lacking the whole lot of the battle.
Spherical certainly one of her battle towards Felice Herrig noticed Jandiroba quickly land a takedown earlier than softening Herrig up with floor and pound photographs. At that time, she trapped her adversary’s arm up towards the cage fence, touchdown extra floor and pound forward of making use of the torque to lock in an armbar in a single minute and 44 seconds.
All it takes is one takedown from Virna Jandiroba to safe the momentum of the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion.
Ultimate Ideas
This has the potential to be top-of-the-line fights of your complete day on Saturday. Count on excessive drama within the UFC Vegas 94 fundamental occasion.
Prediction: Amanda Lemos by Third-Spherical TKO.
