UFC Apex Betting Preview: Amanda Lemos Wants to Protect Ranking Against Virna Jandiroba

July 18, 2024

8 months

Amanda Lemos is always threatening to put an opposing fighter on their backside. During Lemos’ career, she has set a UFC record for knockdowns in the women’s strawweight division with six. She also has the second-highest knockouts in the division, with three.

Despite holding the No. 3 ranking in the division, Lemos opened this fight week with Virna Jandiroba as an underdog. Jandiroba, a former Invicta champion, comes into this fight on a three-fight winning streak. Jandiroba is a wizard on the mats.

She has submitted 13 opponents and has compiled a 20-3 career record. While Jandiroba is stacking up victories, she hasn’t consistently fought the same level of competition as Lemos. MMAfighting latest news shows that Jandiroba has three losses against top fighters like former champion Carla Esparza, as well as against top contenders Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

Lemos decisively beat Dern in February. But there is no simple math for comparing victories, as everyone’s situations are different. One fight that is worth looking at for clues is Lemos’ loss to Zhang Weili in their title fight at UFC 292 in August.

Weili took Lemos down several times and controlled the action throughout the fight. It’s tempting here to take Lemos at plus money, even with her disadvantage.

Bets to consider: Jandiroba ML, Jandiroba by submission

Tavares Needs a Win

Brad Tavares has taken on a laundry list of difficult challenges since joining the UFC. In addition to his victory over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Tavares has unsuccessfully challenged Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. But after Tavares’ last fight, a third-round knockout loss to Gregory Rodrigues, he has some major questions about where he can go moving forward.

Tavares has been knocked out five times during his MMA career. Park Jun-young doesn’t possess the power that Tavares has. He prefers to do most of his work on the mat. Park has six submission wins in his career and is unafraid to wrestle any opponent.

Both men are coming off losses. However, Park’s was an ugly split-decision loss. This fight should go the distance.

Bets to consider: Park -186, Over 2.5 rounds

Garcia is On a Roll

Steve Garcia hopes he has this whole UFC thing figured out. When Garcia landed in the UFC, he lost two of his first three fights. However, Garcia has found the magic touch again since his knockout loss at UFC 275.

During a wild back-and-forth fight with Melquizael Costa last December, Garcia had to dig deep to pick up his third straight knockout victory. Garcia has proven an adept striker throughout his career, recording 12 knockout victories.

Seung Woo Choi finally got things turned around last August. He had lost three consecutive fights and looked like he may be headed out of the UFC. But Choi extended his stay in the promotion with a decision win over Jarno Errens. Garcia will lean on his power to capture his fourth consecutive victory.

Bets to consider: Garcia by KO/TKO/DQ, Under 2.5 rounds

Kaynan Kruschewsky Seeks Second Opportunity

Winning The Ultimate Fighter doesn’t carry as much importance as it used to in the UFC. Kurt Holobaugh first earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender by winning a fight that was later overturned due to a drug test. When Holobaugh first went to the UFC, he was out after three of his first three fights.

However, Holobaugh earned his way back into the promotion by winning TUF 31. But it was a weird year of TUF where veteran fighters fought prospects according to MMA latest updates. Holobaugh is 1-1 since coming back to the UFC. He will fight Kaynan Kruschewsky, who lost his UFC debut after winning on the Contender Series.

This is an important fight for both men.

Bets to consider: Kruschewsky ML, Under 2.5 rounds

Cody Durden Looks for Quick Restart

Cody Durden looked like he was on his way up the rankings. But his fight with Tagir Ulanbekov didn’t go the way he hoped. Durden has been susceptible to being submitted during his career. When Durden and Ulanbekov hit the mat, Ulanbekov was able to halt Durden’s four-fight winning streak with a neck crank.

Durden has shown good durability on his feet during his career. He has never been knocked out and will hope to employ a strong mix of skills when he takes on Bruno Silva. Silva has won three straight fights, winning two by KO and the last fight over Tyson Nam by technical submission.

This fight is a coin flip, and it is worth backing Silva to grab a win in this fight. He is the more balanced fighter and can win in multiple ways.

Bets to consider: Silva ML, Double Chance: Silva by submission or decision

Senor Perfecto Looks to Continue Doo Ho Choi’s Suffering

Doo-ho Choi hasn’t had an easy go of things. Choi likely would have won his last fight with Kyle Nelson, but ended up as a majority draw after Choi was deducted a point for headbutting Nelson in the third round. Previously, Choi had lost his last three fights.

Bill Algeo is making a quick return after a TKO loss to Nelson in March. Before that Algeo had pieced together back-to-back victories. Algeo is a fighter who excels at being on the mat. He has seven submission victories during his career.

Algeo should be able to use his wide array of weapons to pick up a win in this fight.

Bets to consider: Algeo by decision, Algeo ML

Here’s a look at the rest of the fights not mentioned above: