Final Combating Championship (UFC) is again in Las Vegas, Nevada, to stage UFC Vegas 94 later TONIGHT (Sat., July 20, 2024) inside UFC Apex. Headlining the ESPN+-streamed occasion is a ladies’s Strawweight struggle between Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba, whereas Steve Garcia will face Seung Woo Choi within the co-headlining act (due to this).
What’s Sizzling:
For the second straight week, the ladies will take heart stage because the No. 3-ranked fighter at 115 kilos (Lemos), battles the No. 5-seeded Jandiroba. Lemos is 3-1 of their final 4 fights and is coming off a one-sided beatdown over Mackenzie Dern at UFC 298 (recap right here). Lemos is likely one of the hardest hitters within the division, and after stumbling out of the gates in her UFC debut by dropping to Leslie Smith, she went on to win 5 in a row, then suffered losses to former champions Jessica Andrade and Zhang Weili.
As for Jandiroba, she has bounced again properly after dropping to Carla Esparza in her UFC debut, racking up a 6-2 document, which incorporates successful her final three in a row in opposition to Crazy Godinez, Angela Hill and Marina Rodriguez. At the moment ranked No. 5, she is making a push to a title struggle, and a win over Lemos will certainly assist her trigger. The jiu-jitsu black belt has 13 wins by way of submission and just one knockout, so taking it to the bottom is what she prefers to do … and it’s no secret why. As For Lemos, she has eight knockouts with three submissions, so that is certainly a conflict of kinds. The winner takes an enormous leap within the division, and a title struggle may be very reasonable.
What’s Not:
Lucie Pudilova is presently on a two-fight dropping streak, whereas her opponent, Luana Carolina, is on a two-fight win streak. Why UFC matchmakers proceed to e-book fighters on good runs in opposition to opponents on chilly streaks is past me. Maybe a petty gripe, however a gripe nonetheless.
Authentic Card Vs. Precise Card:
Tracy Cortez was initially slated to face Miranda Maverick at this occasion earlier than she was pulled in to fill in for Maycee Barber at UFC Denver in opposition to Rose Namajunas. Cortez went onto lose a unanimous resolution to “Thug Rose.” Maverick will now face Dione Barbosa. Then, after the official weigh ins, Park Jun-yong was not medically cleared by the athletic fee and his scheduled Middleweight struggle in opposition to Brad Tavares was canceled.
Accidents:
Joanderson Brito was in line to face Dan Ige at this occasion earlier than a leg harm compelled him out of the occasion. He was changed by Chepe Mariscal, however Ige was then pulled from the occasion after he agreed to step in to face Diego Lopes at UFC 303 on a number of hours discover after Brian Ortega withdrew due to an sickness. Mariscal will now face Damon Jackson in a number of weeks at UFC Vegas 96.
New Blood:
There aren’t any newcomers at this occasion.
How The ‘Prelims’ Look:
Mohammed Usman suffered his first loss contained in the UFC Octagon in his earlier bout, dropping to Michael Parkin by way of unanimous resolution and snapping his three-fight win streak. Now, the previous The Final Fighter (TUF) winner will try to get again into the winner’s circle when he battles Thomas Petersen, who misplaced in his UFC debut to Jamal Pogues. Each of those hard-hitting huge males have the ability to finish the struggle within the blink of an eye fixed, so don’t change the channel.
Trey Ogden has been alternating wins and losses ever since he made his UFC debut in April 2022, resulting in a 2-2-1 document. He’ll goal to safe his first two-fight win streak contained in the Octagon when he takes on Loik Radzhabov. “The Tajik Tank” is 2-1 inside UFC’s cage, additionally alternating wins and losses.
Barbosa is presently on a four-fight win streak, which incorporates popping out on prime in her UFC debut in opposition to Ernesta Kareckaite at UFC 301 simply two months in the past. In her fast turnaround, she agreed to face Maverick after Cortez was yanked from the struggle. As for Maverick, she is 4-1 in her final 5 fights and one other win might get her into the Prime 15.
In a Featherweight battle between two rising and streaking contenders, Jeong Yeong will tackle Hyder Amil. Yeong is 11-1 general and is presently driving an eight-fight win streak. As for Amil, he’s undefeated (9-0) with 5 knockouts. This might very properly be an early contender for “Combat of the Night time.”
Who Wants A Win Badly:
Brian Kelleher by no means actually acquired the push he so desired by UFC after six years with the promotion. And that hope has dwindled much more after three straight losses, together with his final win coming greater than 2.5 years in the past. One other loss might finish his run with the promotion. The person making ready to present his his fourth straight defeat is Cody Gibson, who’s on a two-fight dropping streak (misplaced three of 4). Upon additional inspection, this might very properly be a loser leaves city match.
Curiosity Stage: 5/10
Within the new co-main occasion, Garcia will go toe-to-toe in opposition to Woo Choi. Garcia is presently on a three-fight win streak and is coming off a technical knockout win over Melquizael Costa. Choi, in the meantime, lately snapped his three-fight dropping streak by securing a much-needed win over Jarno Errens. He hasn’t gained back-to-back fights since 2021, so he’s hoping to vary all of that in “Sin Metropolis.”
Kaynan Kruschewsky noticed his six-fight win streak go up in smoke in his UFC debut after getting knocked out by Elves Brener. Standing in his technique to rating his first win contained in the Octagon is Kurt Holobaugh, who’s coming off a unanimous resolution loss to Trey Ogden. With a document of 1-4 beneath the UFC banner, Holobaugh wants a win in a foul manner.
In a fairly odd pairing, Bruno Gustavo da Silva — who’s on a three-fight win streak — will face off in opposition to Cody Durden, who’s coming off a submission loss at UFC 296. Once more, a streaking fighter going through a person coming off a loss merely doesn’t sit properly with me, however, I simply write about MMA, I don’t do the matchmaking. What’s up, Jon Anik?
Choi Doo-ho got here into the UFC with a 14-1 document, after which went on to win his first three fights contained in the Octagon. Since then he has gone 0-3-1, and is in determined want of a win. I don’t suppose he’ll get reduce with one other loss, however a win is a should right here for his sake. He shall be going through off in opposition to Invoice Algeo, who’s out to proper his personal ship after he was knocked out by Kyle Nelson within the very first spherical simply 4 months in the past.
Benefit from the fights!
Full UFC Vegas 94 Combat Card:
UFC Vegas 94 Essential Occasion On ESPN/ESPN+:
115 lbs.: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba
UFC Vegas 94 Essential Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Brad Tavares vs. Jun Yong Park — CANCELED (particulars right here)145 lbs.: Steve Garcia vs. Seung Woo Choi155 lbs.: Kurt Holobaugh vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky125 lbs.: Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva145 lbs.: Doo Ho Choi vs. Invoice Algeo
UFC Vegas 94 ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN/ESPN+ (5 p.m. ET):
145 lbs.: Jeong Yeong Lee vs. Hyder Amil135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Cody Gibson125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick vs. Dione Barbosa155 lbs.: Loik Radzhabov vs. Trey Ogden135 lbs.: Luana Carolina vs. Lucie Pudilova265 lbs.: Mohammed Usman vs. Thomas Petersen
For the most recent UFC Vegas 94 outcomes, together with play-by-play updates, click on right here.