Outside Source
The organization released via press release the news that Tatiana Suarez (10-1) will be squaring off with Amanda Lemos (15-4-1) in a pivotal strawweight tilt in the co-main event of Noche UFC. The fight card will take place in the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Sept. 13, having been shifted out of Guadalajara, Mexico, due to delays in the home stadium’s construction. This 115-pound pairing joins a lineup that includes Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva in the main attraction.
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The promotion previously celebrated Mexican Independence Day in Las Vegas in 2024, posting up in The Sphere to stage 10 matches replete with video packages. The Emmy-nominated broadcast concluded with Merab Dvalishvili clutching the bantamweight throne from Sean O’Malley. Additionally, Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics threw down in an all-action 135-pound slugfest, one worthy of “Fight of the Year” status were it not for Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje’s titanic engagement at UFC 300.
Both Women Have History With Champ Weili Zhang
Both Suarez and Lemos faced strawweight queen Weili Zhang in the past, and both women came up short on the scorecards. Zhang had surrendered her belt to Rose Namajunas and suffered a loss in their rematch, only to claim it back by dominant Carla Esparza. The first defense of her throne came against Lemos, whom she outworked overwhelmingly—one judge even scored it 50-43 in her favor. In her third defense, Zhang battled Suarez, where she deflated the American wrestler with a one-sided performance that saw her win four of five rounds, while even sneaking out a 10-8 on one of the three cards in the final frame.
This will be Suarez’ first outing since falling victim to the marauding Zhang. Prior to the loss, the first in her career while also serving as the first time she had ever fought beyond the third round, Suarez had racked up seven consecutive wins with the organization. Along the way, Suarez finished five of her foes, although inactivity and injury delayed her rise significantly.
Lemos, who took on Zhang in mid-2023, has since bounced back with decision victories over Mackenzie Dern and Iasmin Lucindo. It was not all sunshine and rainbows for the Brazilian, as those wins bookend a submission loss to Virna Jandiroba for countrywomen bragging rights. Lemos made her start in the organization 2017 up at 135 pounds, only to drop 20 pounds to her current weight division because at the time, flyweight was not part of the women’s slate.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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