Virna Jandiroba desires to cement her place as the subsequent contender for Zhang Weili’s UFC strawweight title with a win over Amanda Lemos at UFC Vegas 94 this Saturday.
A winner of her previous three UFC bouts, the jiu-jitsu ace feels she might earn the chance with a powerful victory and surpass undefeated Tatiana Suarez within the run for gold following earlier wins over Crazy Godinez, Marina Rodriguez, and Angela Hill.
“I undoubtedly assume [I’m next],” Jandiroba advised MMA Combating. “The 2 top-five fighters that haven’t fought for the title but are myself and Tatiana, and we’re two contemporary names. I feel {that a} win over Amanda Lemos does take me to a title combat.”
Jandiroba stated presumably being on the verge of competing for a belt “clearly brings further weight” to a combat, “however I attempt to deal with with it one of the best ways doable.”
“The belt is one thing I’ve all the time stated I would like so dangerous,” Jandiroba stated. “Not the belt itself, however what it represents. It’s the image of a dream. However I’m centered on this combat first, proper? I’ve to win this combat first after which — we clearly give it some thought as a result of we’re near it, it may very well be the subsequent step, however I attempt to deal with this combat to additionally take that weight away just a little bit. Saturday is the long run. We’ve to consider this future first.”
Jandiroba has received nearly all of her MMA wins by submission, an inventory that features UFC stoppages of Felice Herrig and Mallory Martin in addition to a profitable Invicta FC title protection over Janaisa Morandin. On the opposite facet, Lemos, who misplaced a call when difficult Zhang in 2023, brings an reverse combating fashion with a number of knockouts to her credit score.
“We’re each full athletes, clearly, however we now have fairly distinct video games,” Jandiroba stated. “She’s extra of a striker and I come from a grappling background, and I’ve fought many strikers earlier than, though I’ve been examined on the bottom as nicely. I’ve the utmost respect for Amanda’s story, she’s a really harmful woman, however I’ve confronted any such matchup many instances earlier than in my profession.”
Lemos received a three-round resolution over jiu-jitsu legend Mackenzie Dern in her most up-to-date bout. Jandiroba broke the combat down in camp and noticed many openings left by Lemos that Jandiroba believes she would’ve taken benefit of “as a result of my jiu-jitsu is totally different.”
“We’ve related types however we’re far totally different in lots of facets as nicely,” Jandiroba stated of her grappling in comparison with Dern’s. “I’ve studied how Amanda behaved in that combat, even on the bottom, and we might see quite a lot of issues, quite a lot of holes, but additionally issues Amanda does nicely. I’m able to combat 5 rounds if it goes that lengthy, however I feel it will possibly finish early as a result of we each go for the end.”
