With Zhang Weili likely returning to reclaim her strawweight throne from Mackenzie Dern, Saturday night could decide who’s next in line for a shot at the belt.
Veteran striker Amanda Lemos faces burgeoning submission specialist Gillian Robertson in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 114 at the META Apex. Originally slated for December, the bout was cancelled and later rebooked due to a last-minute medical issue with Lemos.
Lemos (15–5–1, 9–5 UFC) has gone 2–2 since stumbling in her first attempt at Weili in August 2023 and is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Tatiana Suarez in September. Robertson (16–8, 13–6 UFC) enters on a four-fight winning streak, punctuated by a second-round TKO of Marina Rodriguez in May.
Robertson enters as a -198 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Lemos sits as a +164 underdog. The total is set at 2.5 rounds.
Lemos vs. Robertson Preview
Amanda Lemos
After an impressive six-year run in the UFC, Amanda Lemos, 38, finally clawed to the top of the rankings and earned a title shot against Zhang Weili in August 2023. But the veteran has struggled against top-level competition at this point in her career, suffering a lopsided decision loss to Weili and batting .500 in four fights since.
While she recorded a pair of unanimous decision wins against current champ Mackenzie Dern and Iasmin Lucindo, she got submitted by Virna Jandiroba and, most recently, landed on the wrong side of the judges’ scorecards against Tatiana Suarez in September.
Still, Lemos remains a battle-tested veteran with dangerous, southpaw striking. A 5-foot-4 boxer with a 65-inch reach, the Brazilian contender lands 2.75 significant strikes per minute. Eleven of her 15 professional wins have come by finish, including eight knockouts and three submissions.
Gillian Robertson
Gillian Robertson, 30, has essentially grown up in the Octagon. Making her UFC debut at the TUF 26 Finale at just 22 years old, “The Savage” has since piled up 13 wins in 19 trips to the cage and enters Saturday’s co-main event on a four-fight winning streak.
Standing 5-foot-5 with a 63-inch reach, Robertson is an exceptional grappler with complete jiu-jitsu mastery. She overwhelms opponents with relentless pressure and constant takedown attempts, landing 2.74 per 15 minutes at 40% accuracy. Twelve of her 16 professional wins have come by stoppage, and her seven submissions victories in the Octagon are a UFC women’s record.
The sheer versatility of Robertson’s ground game has been on full display since she moved down to strawweight, boasting a 5–1 record at 115 pounds. Robertson has shown that she’s far more than just a submission artist, and that she’s equally as comfortable raining down vicious ground-and-pound from back control — evidenced by her latest TKO victory against Marina Rodriguez in May.
Lemos vs. Robertson Pick, Best Bet
Lemos has a puncher’s chance as long as the fight stays standing, but her meager 64% takedown defense spells trouble against a jiu-jitsu scholar in Robertson. The younger, sharper Canadian should avoid striking exchanges and look to bring the fight to the mat as early as possible.
If Robertson finds unexpected success on the feet — as many grapplers do when opponents fear the takedown — she may even persuade Lemos into shooting out of desperation. Robertson’s expertise in scrambling and reversing positions gives her a clear advantage in that department, as well.
Ultimately, all roads lead to ground control for Robertson. And if she manages to take Lemos’ back, don’t expect the fight to last much longer.
