ELMONT, N.Y. – Amanda Lemos was eager to show off her jiu-jitsu against Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3, and she did just that.
Lemos (12-2-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) showed power in her strikes as she broke into the strawweight rankings, but then she stumbled in April with a historic submission defeat against Jessica Andrade. She said she wanted to show better grappling ability, and got the job done by tapping Waterson (18-10 MMA, 6-6 UFC) with a guillotine choke in the second round of the co-main event at USB Arena.
After suffering a key setback, Lemos said she’s energized by the performance.
“I feel rejuvenated that I’m back in the win column,” Lemos told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter at the UFC on ABC 3 post-fight news conference. “I’m taking one week off – one week off to spend time with my family and rest. That’s how I like to do it.”
With wins in five of her past six fights, Lemos is keen to continue her upward trajectory at 115 pounds. She said there was no one else on her mind outside Waterson coming into fight week, so as long as her next opponent represents a step up, she’ll be satisfied.
“I have one next fight: receive a phone call with the name of the next opponent, and I’ll be ready,” Lemos said. “I’ll take anybody that’s ranked above me. Anybody that’s ranked above me, I’m ready to fight.”
Amanda Lemos ‘rejuvenated’ by finish of Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3