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Apr 22, 2022 1:15 amAmanda Lemos and Jéssica Andrade are two Brazilian born fighters who are both ranked in the top 10 in the women’s strawweight division. While many pundits list Andrade as the favorite due to her status as a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the fact that she is a former world champion, it is Lemos who enters the bout on a five-fight win streak. Each of these women have a lot to lose; Andrade wants to recapture the belt, while Lemos feels that she is deserving of the first title shot of her UFC tenure. These two warriors headline the upcoming edition of Fight Night, to be held at the Apex Center in Las Vegas. The rest of the main card features compelling storylines and competitive athletes. There’s a lot to unpack here; without further ado, let’s get into it!
Lemos vs. Andrade
Amanda Lemos has not suffered defeat inside the octagon since July of 2017. To put that into perspective, her last loss coincided with her UFC debut. Since that time, Lemos has learned how to perform on the sport’s biggest stage and has gone on to cement herself as one of the best competitors in the strawweight division. Jéssica Andrade, on the other hand, suffered a loss at the hands of Valentina Shevchenko in April of last year. Unfortunately, the UFC women’s strawweight championship was up for grabs that night. In September, Andrade bounced back nicely by claiming a first round knockout victory at UFC 266. She is looking to continue her forward momentum; Lemos will do anything in her power to put a stop to it. This will be a showdown fight fans will not want to miss!
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesGuida vs. Puelles
2021 was somewhat of a bounce back year for lightweight challenger Clay Guida. Winning two fights, and losing another via split decision, he proved that at 40-years-old, he is just as competitive as ever. While he’s never been given a title shot in the organization, the fact that he’s been active since 2006, all but ensures he’ll have a place in the UFC’s Hall of Fame someday. Claudio Puelles, on the other hand, is only 25-years-old, but he’s been a professional fighter since he was 17. Having nearly a decade of experience under his belt, he will feel no fear when it comes to facing the much older Guida inside the octagon. Neither one of these men have been known to be easily intimidated or back down from an opponent. Tune in to this fight if you’re interested in seeing two gladiators give it their all from the opening bell to the final finish!
Barber vs. De La Rosa
Women’s flyweight prospect Maycee Barber is a 2nd degree Blackbelt in Karate and a Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Once upon a time, a severe knee injury kept her out of the octagon for an entire year. However, Barber has bounced back nicely, looking like her old self during a victory in July of last year. Montana De La Rosa is a Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her husband, Mark, competed in the UFC’s lightweight division before retiring in 2020. Montana is carrying on the family’s fighting legacy; she has publicly stated that her goal is to become a ranked fighter in the flyweight division. A win on Saturday would be a huge step in the right direction.
Romanov vs. Sherman
Heavyweight prospect Alexander Romanov was a collegiate level wrestler at Comrat State University in his native country of Russia. Before leaving school to become a professional mixed martial artist, Romanov took home the Bronze medal at the World University games in 2016. Chase Sherman, on the other hand, grew up in the Southeastern United States and played collegiate American Football. He’s appeared in the BKFC as a semi-sanctioned bare-fisted brawler, only to return to his original love, mixed martial arts. Romanov is heavily favored heading into this fight but Sherman will always have a puncher’s chance.
Vannata vs. Jourdain
Featherweight prospect Lando Vannata has lost two out of his last four fights and made just one appearance in the octagon in 2021. Back in 2016, he was crowned the Lightweight champion for Top Shelf Entertainment. Immediately following that fight, he was called up to the UFC. Since joining the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization, Vannata has been a so-so performer and has never become a true contender. His next opponent, Charles Jourdain, is only 26-years-old and made his organizational debut a little over two years ago. It remains to be seen as to whether or not Jourdain will become one of the elite performers in the featherweight division. The trajectory of each of these men’s careers will depend a lot on their performance on Saturday night.
How to watch
UFC Vegas 52 can be viewed on BT Sport in the United Kingdom, and on ESPN Plus in the United States. As always, we’ll have all the latest updates about the outcomes of the fights, as well as in depth analysis, available right here at World in Sport!
