The winner of this contest will potentially be one step away from a title bout. Amanda Lemos already had her chance once while Virna Jandiroba looks like she's got it in her despite her age. Here is our Lemos vs Jandiroba prediction.
Lemos vs Jandiroba Prediction: There is a New Betting Favorite
Amanda Lemos Preview
Amanda Lemos is a 37-year-old fighter who competes in the UFC women’s strawweight division. With a 14-3-1 record, she is one of the most powerful strikers in the division.
Lemos made her UFC debut in 2017 and has shown impressive progress since then. Her aggressive style and powerful strikes have earned her eight knockout wins. However, her career has been marred by losses to top opponents like Jessica Andrade and Weili Zhang.
The two convincing wins in 2022 over Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez earned her the first title shot of her career. In August 2023, she faced Zhang Weili but lost after five full rounds and the fight was not that close overall.
Lemos' last fight was in February 2024, when she won a decision over Mackenzie Dern. In that fight, Amanda bounced back and demonstrated not only her stand-up skills but also her improved takedown defense.
Despite her age, Lemos is in excellent physical shape and looks ready for new challenges. But before we can give our Lemos vs Jandiroba prediction, we have to take a closer look at her lesser-known opponent.
Virna Jandiroba Preview
Virna Jandiroba is a 36-year-old Brazilian fighter who is currently ranked #5 in the Strawweight division. With a 20-3-0 record, she is one of the best grapplers in the UFC.
Jandiroba made her UFC debut in 2019 and has since earned respect for her outstanding ground game. Most of her wins have come via submission, highlighting her Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess.
Her career thus far has not been errorless and she lost on multiple occasions – against Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas – only elite-level fighters.
Since 2022, Jandiroba has won all three of her matches, defeating Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez. Curiously, all three were decisions, albeit convincing ones. She will have more chances to use her submission skills against Amanda Lemos, who has serious problems on the ground.
Our Amanda Lemos vs Virna Jandiroba Prediction:
This fight is a classic striker vs grappler matchup. The main question is whether Lemos will be able to defend herself against Virna's takedowns. She often shows problems defending takedowns, which could be the deciding factor in this fight.
While Lemos is far more experienced at the highest level, the likely scenario is that Jandiroba will dominate the fight. Despite her powerful striking, Lemos has always had problems against elite wrestlers. Even if Jandiroba doesn't find a submission, she will control the action on the ground and win the rounds.
Overall, we like the decision win for ‘Carcara' for our Lemos vs Jandiroba prediction. It is unlikely that this fight will end ahead of schedule.