LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 19: Amanda Lemos of Brazil poses on the weigh-in scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-ins at UFC APEX on July 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 60 / UFC Vegas 94 undercard featured just one decided bout. But the main card played out as expected, with five of the six bouts ending in stoppages. In fact, all of the performance bonuses for the night went to fighters on the main card. In the main event, Virna Jandiroba submitted Amanda Lemos, all but cementing herself as the next strawweight title challenger. After Saturday’s card, many fighters will have to bounce back from their devastating stoppages and find their next opponents.
Amanda Lemos
Amanda Lemos was taken down by armbar in the second round by rising contender Virna Jandiroba in the main event of UFC Vegas 94. Lemos entered the bout as UFC’s No. 3 ranked women’s strawweight. Jandiroba entered the bout as the No. 5 ranked women’s strawweight and likely next in line for a 115-pound title fight.
Lemos’ next fight will likely be against Tatiana Suarez. Since losing to Weili Zhang for the belt last August, Lemos has only beaten Mackenzie Dern, who is ranked No. 7. A win over Suarez, who is ranked No. 1 in the UFC women’s strawweight division, would put Lemos back in contention for the title. Lemos was scheduled to face Tatiana Suarez in February, but Suarez withdrew from the bout.
Lemos’ next match: Tatiana Suarez
Choi Seung-woo
Seung Woo Choi joined Steve Garcia’s winning streak in the main event of UFC Vegas 94. Sting is currently 4-6 at UFC, losing four of his last five fights, with his last win coming against Jarno Ellens last August, and would probably be best suited to fight someone in the middle of the weight classes or someone looking to make a comeback in their career.
If Choi Seung-woo were to face him next at 145 pounds, Julio Arce or Alexander Hernandez would be excellent opponents.
Arce last stepped into the Octagon in March, missing weight before his second bout against Herbert Burns at 145 pounds, but was 2-2 in his previous four bouts at bantamweight and had also missed weight at 135 pounds. Arce fought five bouts at featherweight on the 2017 Contender Series and has since started his UFC career with a 6-4 record.
Alexander Hernandez is another solid contender in a similar situation. Hernandez has lost four of his last five fights, three of which came at featherweight. Hernandez is 6-7 in the UFC with a number of high-profile bouts at 155 pounds, but has begun experimenting at featherweight in recent years. Alexander last fought in April, losing a split decision to Damon Jackson in the main event.
Choi’s next opponent: Julio Arce or Alexander Hernandez
Keinan Kruszewski
Keynan Kruszewski lost a unanimous decision on Saturday to TUF 31 winner Kurt Hollobaugh. Kruszewski is now 0-2 in the UFC since signing with the company last year and coming off a win in the Contender Series.
Kanan is in a tough spot at lightweight and will definitely have to fight for a spot. Cage Warriors veteran Michal Figlak would be a good opponent for Kruszewski. Michal lost a unanimous decision to Austin Hubbard in April (Hubbard was Hollobaugh’s opponent at TUF 31) and in his UFC debut he lost a unanimous decision to Fares Ziam. This would be a solid fight between two unbeaten lightweights.
Next up for Kruszewski: Michal Figlak
Cody Darden
Cody Dirden was stopped in the second round in an incredible comeback by Bruno Silva on Saturday. Dirden came into the bout ranked 14th in the UFC flyweight division and faced an unranked opponent.
Darden is scheduled to fight the winner of the match between Jafer Filho and Alan Nascimento on August 10. Jafer Filho is a product of the 2022 Contender Series. Both of Filho’s wins have been by finish, with his only loss coming to Mohamed Mokaev (ranked 6th in the UFC flyweight division) last March. Alan Nascimento is also 2-1 at UFC, finishing his most recent opponent and his only loss at UFC was a split decision against Tagir Uranbekov (ranked 13th in the UFC flyweight division).
Darden’s next bout: Winner of Jafer Filho vs. Alan Nascimento
Bill Algeo
Bill Algeo lost a hard-fought bout to Duho Choi on Saturday. Algeo is now 5-5 in the UFC, but all of his losses to fellow 2019 Contender Series competitors came against stronger opponents (Ricardo Lamas, Ricardo Ramos, Andre Fili and Kyle Nelson).
Algeo’s next opponent will likely be Charles Jourdan, who also has won two bouts in 2024. Jourdan suffered the first loss of his career at the hands of Jean Silva nearly a month ago. Algeo and Jourdan have a 6-7-1 record at UFC, having faced common opponents in Andre Fili, Choi Du-ho and Ricardo Ramos, so this should be a great striking battle.
Argeo’s next match: Charles Jourdan
Lee Jeong-yeon
Lee Jung-Yeon lost a hard-fought battle to Haider Amir on Saturday in the opening round of the main card at UFC Las Vegas 94. The 2022 Road to UFC winner is now 2-1 with the promotion.
Morgan Charriere should be next up for John Yong Lee. Charriere signed with UFC last year from Cage Warriors Promotions. He is 1-1 at UFC, with the majority of his career wins coming by way of KO/TKO. Morgan last competed in April, losing a split decision to Chepe Mariscal. He was recently scheduled to fight AJ Cunningham on September 28th. AJ is a 2023 Contender Series competitor and is 0-1 at UFC. He last competed against Ludovit Klein earlier this year, losing in the first round.
The winner of this match will be a good one for Lee.
Lee’s next fight: Morgan Charriere vs. AJ Cunningham Winner
