Las Vegas, NV — While the stoppage sparked some debate, Amanda Lemos finished Montserrat Ruiz in the first round at UFC Vegas 31. It goes down in the record books as a knockout, the second-fastest in women’s strawweight history in the promotion.
Ruiz might have been ready to continue. She might have been out on her feet. Either way, Lemos got the win.
“I feel great. I’m ready for the next one,” she told media outlets including Cageside Press following the event, with manager Wallid Ismail translating.
Asked if the bout played out as she had expected, Lemos stated that “I always go to the fight with the intention to finish in the first round.”
That said, she was hoping to show a little more. “I have a lot to show,” said Lemos, who said that her jiu-jitsu was one skill she hoped to show more of. It seems she’ll get a chance to show that soon. “I’m going to fight in October. I talked to Dana White, and I’m going to fight on Fight Island in October.”
In regards to an opponent, Lemos suggested someone in the top five, and mentioned Michelle Waterson specifically — though it’s unclear if Dana White was on board with that, or if it remains a desire of Lemos.
A fired up Wallid Ismail translated for Amanda Lemos after her #UFCVegas31 win, but Derrick Lewis wasn’t buying it 😅
(via @Thebeast_ufc) pic.twitter.com/NmMEHi0aEO
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 18, 2021
With Ismail speaking for the strawweight, Lemos had something of a fired-up post-fight interview in the octagon Saturday. Or more accurately, Ismail was the one fired up. Heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis, among others, was critical in regards to whether Lemos had actually spoken the promo Ismail appeared to have cut.
Asked for their response, Ismail said “I translated more. You speak Portuguese? How you know? Come on.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 31 post-fight press scrum with Amanda Lemos above.
