Amanda Lemos confident in No. 1 contender status, predicts Zhang Weili defeats Carla Esparza at UFC 281

LAS VEGAS – Amanda Lemos believes she’s done enough.

The UFC women’s strawweight contender is confident she’ll get the next title shot following her most recent win inside the octagon. Lemos (13-2-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) defeated Marina Rodriguez on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 214 at the UFC Apex. The Brazilian ended Rodriguez’s (16-2-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) winning streak by second-round TKO.

Now on a two-fight winning streak, Lemos can sense UFC gold in her future.

“Surely, yeah, I should be the next one to line up,” Lemos told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 214 post-fight press conference. “(I’m going to) go back home, rest for a week, go back to the gym and wait for that opportunity to be the next one for the title.”

The UFC strawweight title will be up for grabs next Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 281 in New York. Champion Carla Esparza defends her title against former champ Zhang Weili.

Lemos believes Weili will recover her belt and expects her to be the one holding the belt when she challenges.

“I believe Zhang Weili is going to win,” Lemos said. “She’s the more complete, stronger fighter even though Carla Esparza is dangerous, I do believe Zhang Weili is going to win.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 214.