Since making her strawweight debut in 2019, Brazil’s Amanda Lemos had looked perfect. Four consecutive wins in the division — two this year alone, both finishes — had her on the brink of contendership.
On Saturday at UFC Vegas 45, Lemos was paired up with former Invicta FC champ and TUF alum Angela Hill. The fight looked to be a litmus test of where Lemos stood in the 115lb title picture.
The first round started off slow until Lemos was able to use a front kick to hurt and drop Hill. Lemos was on top working elbows and strikes but Hill was able to survive. She was even able to get back to her feet and get a takedown of her own and avoided getting caught in a guillotine. Once they got back to the feet they traded back and forth and Hill was able to hurt Lemos before Amanda got her bearings back and they were able to trade back and forth for the rest of the round.
HOLY FRONT KICK 🤯
Lemos sends her down, but Hill is able to recover for now! #UFCVegas45 pic.twitter.com/IsO6fxomLb
— UFC (@ufc) December 19, 2021
The second round was all Angela Hill as Amanda Lemos showed she had used a lot of her gas tank in the first trying to finish Hill. For every strike Lemos landed, Hill would land a couple of her own and she took the fight to Amanda. In the clinch Hill landed the better of the strikes on the break with elbows and knees to the body. Hill was shooting a takedown as the round ended.
The third round was fast and furious with Lemos knowing she needed to make a statement and Hill trying to keep the momentum in the fight. Both fighters traded back and forth between big strikes and clinches, takedowns and knees in the clinch. Hill was showing that she did not fear Lemos’ power and Amanda was trying to keep her momentum of finishes going. The bout felt like a strong candidate to go down as Fight of the Night.
At the end of the night Lemos was able to convince the judges to award her the win with a very close split decision. Lemos now rides a 5-fight win streak.
🗣 Via split decision!
🇧🇷 @AAmandaLemoss is going home with the win. #UFCVegas45 pic.twitter.com/YzOKyw8hGy
— UFC (@ufc) December 19, 2021
Official Result: Amanda Lemos def. Angela Hill by split decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
