UFC Vegas 94: Virna Jandiroba demands strawweight title fight with Zhang Weili after Amanda Lemos submission

Virna Jandiroba underlined her strawweight title credentials at UFC Vegas 94 as the Brazilian appeared as the headline act for the very first time. It took less than two rounds for Jandiroba to tap Amanda Lemos with a vicious armbar. Elsewhere, aside from Doo Ho Choi's comeback victory, it was a sorry night for South Korea as Hyder Amil and Steve Garcia turned on the style in their knockout wins.

Virna Jandiroba called for her next fight to have a belt on the line, after submitting Amanda Lemos in the second round of their UFC Vegas 94 headliner.

The Brazilian caught her compatriot in a decisive armbar with seconds remaining in round two of their strawweight clash.

It was the first time Jandiroba had headlined a UFC show, after the original main event – Brad Tavares v Jun Yong Park – was pulled as the latter withdrew through injury.

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Speaking via a translator after her fourth straight win, Jandiroba made her title-fight intentions clear to UFC CEO and president Dana White.

“Dana, I’m the next one,” Jandiroba said. “I’m the one that needs to get that title shot. ... Dana, I’m your next champion.

“I was supposed to fight [Zhang] Weili a long time ago, but destiny crosses different paths. It’s time. Let’s go.”

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Zhang Weili is the current champion of the division, defending her title against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 in April.

The fighter from China had previously kept a firm grip on her belt in August 2023, winning by unanimous decision against Jandiroba’s Saturday night opponent Lemos.

Elsewhere, it was a sorry night for South Korea, in spite of Doo Ho Choi’s knockout of Bill Algeo in the second round, his first UFC win since 2016.

The featherweight bout was short-lived after the American’s fast but reckless start, and it took a well-timed left hook from Choi to send Algeo to the canvas.

Garcia continues UFC's longest active KO streak with round-one dispatch of Choi

Video credit: TNT Sports

His namesake and fellow South Korean Seung Woo Choi did not fare as well in the co-main event, being brutally knocked out with less than two minutes gone by Steve Garcia.

The American featherweight’s UFC record now stands at 5-2, with all of the 32-year-old’s victories coming via a knockout, including all of his last four bouts.

But the Philippines’ Hyder Amil went one better, flooring Jeong Yeong Lee of South Korea in just over a minute with a devastating 38-piece combo.

The Hurricane is undefeated in competitive MMA after a staggering 10-fight run stretching all the way back to 2017.

'Absolute insanity' - Amil finishes Lee with incredible barrage of punches

Video credit: TNT Sports

There was one more TKO to savour from the main card, as Bruno Silva landed a counter uppercut to down Cody Durden in the second round.

Silva continued to pound Durden on the deck to ensure the victory and end a three-fight losing streak.

In the other main card event, Kurt Holobaugh produced a minor upset to defeat Kaynan Kruschewsky by unanimous decision.

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