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#4 Amanda Lemos – defeated Montserrat Ruiz on the UFC Vegas 31 prelims
UFC Vegas 31’s best knockout belonged to Amanda Lemos, who turned out the lights on Montserrat Ruiz with a beautiful combination after just 35 seconds of their fight. Lemos showed tremendous timing, footwork and explosive power, and simply outclassed her opponent.
The performance was so impressive, in fact, that some fans questioned why she’d even been matched against Ruiz. It was a confusing conclusion to reach, given that ‘Conejo’ was also considered a strong prospect coming into the event and was on a two-fight win streak of her own.
Lemos is now on a four-fight winning run in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions, the women's strawweight weight class, and as she’s already ranked at #14, it’s probably time that the promotion moves her up to fight a top ten opponent next time out.
A fight with someone like Tecia Torres, Nina Nunes or Claudia Gadelha would definitely work, and judging by the striking poise that Lemos showed last night, she’d be a very real threat to any of them. After last night, Lemos simply can’t be overlooked.
#3 Mateusz Gamrot – defeated Jeremy Stephens on the UFC Vegas 31 main card
Faced with a far more experienced opponent in Jeremy Stephens, who has been in the UFC now for well over a decade, you could’ve forgiven Mateusz Gamrot for being a little overawed last night. After all, the Polish fighter has less fights overall than Stephens has in the UFC.
But ‘Gamer’ showed no sign of any nerves at all when it came down to it. If anything, he was the one who showed veteran poise, as he took advantage of what was a rookie mistake of sorts from Stephens, spinning his way into a kimura after escaping an attempted one from ‘Lil Heathen’.
Gamrot is now 2-1 in the UFC and has finished two credentialed veterans in his wins, with his lone loss coming in a razor-close fight with fellow prospect Guram Kutateladze.
Based on his showing last night, the Polish fighter is probably capable of taking on the 155-pound division’s better fighters and, given the sheer depth of that division, there won’t be any shortage of opponents for him.
However, given how good he looked last night, the UFC would probably be best served to shoot him up the ladder against a top 15 foe. Judging by how he handled Stephens, he’s more than ready.
