Boston, MA — The mindset women’s strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos carries into UFC 292 this Saturday is nothing new to the Brazilian standout.
Lemos (13-2-1), who has won her last two bouts, explained during Wednesday’s UFC 292 media day that “every fight I’ve had, I’ve always imagined that I was actually fighting a champion. So good place, my head is in a good place, and I’m ready to bring back a belt.”
Ahead of UFC 292, the co-main event scrap between champ Weili Zhang and Lemos has been widely overlooked in favor other other fights on the card. There’s not a lot of buzz, but Lemos, 36, believes that will change after the fact.
“People may not be talking about it now, but they’ll be talking about it afterwards,” she predicted. “Because it’s going to be a war, and it’s going to be historic.”
It’s not just the fight that appears to have been overlooked, however. While Zhang vs. Lemos has been overshadowed by UFC 292’s Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley main event, the return of Chris Weidman, and other fights, Lemos in particular appears to be an afterthought. Fight fans have focused instead on the likes of Tatiana Suarez and Yan Xiaonan, who are popular choices to fight Zhang.
“Surely they are [overlooking me]. The more they forget, the more motivation I have to go out there and get the title,” stated Lemos. “On Saturday, they will know who Amanda Lemos is.”
The Lemos who turns up in the octagon on Saturday at Boston’s TD Garden, meanwhile, is going to look different, she added, from what has come before.
“I believe I have advantages across the board in all areas. And I think you’re going to see a different Amanda than you have in the past,” said Lemos. “And I think that that is my advantage.”
Watch the full UFC 292 media day appearance by Amanda Lemos above.
