Now is the time for Verna Jandiroba.
The main event of UFC Vegas 94 on Saturday saw Jandiroba take part in the biggest fight of her career as she headlined a UFC event for the first time. The 11-year veteran did not disappoint, showing off her elite wrestling skills en route to a second-round submission of Amanda Lemos.
After her knockout win, the former Invicta FC strawweight champion made it clear what she wants in her next fight.
“Dana, I’m next,” Jandiroba said through a Portuguese interpreter. “I’m the one who needs to have a chance to win the title… Dana, I’m your next champion.”
Currently, Zhang Weili dominates the UFC 115-pound division in her second title reign. According to Jandiroba, there have already been talks for the fight before, so it’s time to revisit the fight, this time with gold on the line.
“I was supposed to fight Willy a long time ago, but fate crossed our paths,” Jandiroba said. “It’s time. Let’s go.”
Jandiroba (21-3) has been in championship form lately, having won her last four fights. She produced the best performance of her UFC career to date on Saturday to defeat Lemos (14-4-1), who was once a strawweight title challenger.
Saturday’s main event was a classic grappler versus striker, and Jandiroba did the grappler proud, looking to take Lemos down early and limiting Lemos’ ability to show her punching power. Lemos tried to counter the takedown with a guillotine choke, but Jandiroba was well prepared and calmly managed to get out of the situation.
Shortly after, it was Lemos’ turn to show her submission defense when Jandiroba attacked her with a leg lock. Lemos escaped, but Jandiroba won the first round thanks to her control of the wrestling.
Jandiroba respected Lemos’s jab in the second round, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike again. When she did, it led to a long fight before Jandiroba was finally able to grab Lemos’ back. The snake-like Jandiroba didn’t give Lemos much breathing room and when the opportunity arose for an armbar, she took it and earned the submission at the 4:48 mark of the second round.
Lemos has now lost two of her past three fights, including her failed attempt to defeat Zhang in a title match at UFC 292.