Amanda Lemos Bio
Amanda Oliveira de Lemos, born on May 22, 1987, in Belém, Pará, Brazil, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Known by the nickname “Amandinha,” she has built a reputation as a dangerous finisher with a well-rounded skill set that includes striking, grappling, and submission offense. She currently represents the Marajó Brothers Team and has been ranked among the top contenders in the UFC women’s strawweight division.
Born and raised in the northern Brazilian state of Pará, Lemos turned professional in 2014 and steadily rose through the regional scene before joining the UFC roster in 2017. Her journey has included a championship opportunity against former titleholder Zhang Weili, multiple post-fight bonus awards, and several memorable stoppage victories that have cemented her status as a consistent threat in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions.
Early Life and Background
Amanda Oliveira de Lemos was born on May 22, 1987, in Belém, the capital city of the state of Pará in northern Brazil. Growing up in this Amazonian region, she was raised in an environment where martial arts were an accessible outlet for young athletes seeking discipline and competitive opportunity. The strong regional fighting culture of Pará helped shape her early interest in combat sports, and the local gyms produced many future mixed martial arts talents.
Details about her family and formal education remain limited in publicly available sources, but her hometown of Belém and the surrounding state of Pará have remained closely tied to her professional identity. She continues to train and reside in the region, representing the local fighting community wherever she competes on the global stage of the UFC.
Path to MMA
Lemos began her professional mixed martial arts career in 2014 on the Brazilian regional circuit, with most of her early bouts taking place under the Jungle Fight banner. Competing initially at bantamweight, she compiled an undefeated 5–0 record, demonstrating finishing ability and a willingness to face top regional opposition. Her rapid development led to a shot at the Jungle Fight Women’s Bantamweight Championship against Mayra Cantuária at Jungle Fight 85 on January 23, 2016, where the fight ended in a majority draw.
The draw set up an immediate rematch with Cantuária at Jungle Fight 88 on June 25, 2016, where Lemos captured the title with a third-round knockout. That victory established her as a proven finisher in the regional scene and helped open the door to opportunities on the international stage. Her transition from regional standout to UFC roster member followed shortly thereafter, as she was signed after a strong run of performances in her native Brazil.
Amanda Lemos Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
During her early professional years, Lemos built a foundation in Jungle Fight and other Brazilian regional promotions. She captured the Jungle Fight Women’s Bantamweight Championship by knocking out Mayra Cantuária in the third round of their June 2016 rematch, a performance that showcased her growing power and composure under pressure. These early championship-caliber performances established her as a legitimate prospect ready for bigger opportunities.
A scheduled bout against Arlene Blencowe at Legend MMA 1 in January 2017 was canceled after Lemos withdrew from the event, but her regional résumé was strong enough to attract the attention of the UFC. Stepping in on short notice to replace an injured Lina Länsberg, she made her promotional debut against Leslie Smith at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio on July 16, 2017, where she was stopped in the second round. Despite the loss, the bout introduced her to a global audience and set the stage for her long-term development inside the octagon.
UFC Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Lemos returned to competition in December 2019 at UFC Fight Night 165, where she faced Miranda Granger on short notice after Veronica Macedo withdrew. Lemos won the bout via technical submission, marking her first official UFC victory. She then defeated Mizuki Inoue by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 15 in August 2020, signaling her arrival in the strawweight division after moving down from bantamweight.
Her finishing instincts returned in 2021, as she stopped Lívia Renata Souza with first-round technical knockouts at UFC 259 in March and followed that with another first-round technical knockout of Montserrat Ruiz at UFC on ESPN 26 in July. She closed the year with a split-decision win over Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night 199 in December, a bout that earned both fighters the Fight of the Night bonus. These consecutive victories established Lemos as a serious contender in the strawweight ranks.
Title Shot and Top-Five Era (2022–Present)
Lemos received the biggest opportunity of her career on April 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205, where she faced former strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade. Although she lost via a first-round standing arm-triangle choke, the bout demonstrated her willingness to face elite opposition. She bounced back at UFC on ABC 3 in July 2022, submitting Michelle Waterson with a second-round guillotine choke and earning her first Performance of the Night bonus in the process.
Later in 2022, she stopped Marina Rodriguez with a third-round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 214, cementing her place in the division’s upper tier. On August 19, 2023, at UFC 292, she challenged Zhang Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship but lost by unanimous decision. Since then, Lemos has continued to compete against top-ranked opposition, alternating wins and losses against names such as Mackenzie Dern, Virna Jandiroba, Iasmin Lucindo, Tatiana Suarez, and Gillian Robertson, while remaining a fixture in the UFC’s official strawweight rankings.
Style and Strengths
Lemos is best known for her heavy hands and opportunistic grappling, frequently capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes with sharp counters and well-timed submissions. Training out of the Marajó Brothers Team in Pará, she has developed into a balanced striker-grappler who can end fights on the feet or on the mat. Her finishing instincts, combined with her comfort in high-pressure matchups, have made her one of the most consistently dangerous fighters in the women’s strawweight division.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key career moments include capturing the Jungle Fight Women’s Bantamweight Championship in 2016, earning multiple post-fight bonus awards inside the UFC, and challenging Zhang Weili for the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship at UFC 292 in August 2023. Her list of bonus-winning performances highlights the UFC Fight Night 199 clash with Angela Hill and the second-round submission of Michelle Waterson at UFC on ABC 3, both of which underscored her finishing ability and entertainment value.
Amanda Lemos Career Wins
Amanda Lemos has accumulated a professional record highlighted by a balanced mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions across her career in regional Brazilian circuits and the UFC. Her finishing ability has remained a defining trait, with stoppage wins coming against respected opposition in both promotions.
UFC Strawweight Highlights
Inside the UFC strawweight division, Lemos has recorded notable victories over Miranda Granger, Mizuki Inoue, Lívia Renata Souza, Montserrat Ruiz, Angela Hill, Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez, Mackenzie Dern, and Iasmin Lucindo. Among these, her finishes of Souza, Ruiz, Waterson, and Rodriguez stand out for their decisive nature and earning her multiple post-fight bonuses along the way.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC, Lemos captured the Jungle Fight Women’s Bantamweight Championship by knocking out Mayra Cantuária in the third round of their June 2016 rematch. Her undefeated run through the Brazilian regional scene, combined with that title win, served as the foundation for her transition to the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion.
Amanda Lemos Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Amanda Lemos’ immediate family, parents, and siblings remains limited in verified sources. She has consistently represented her home state of Pará throughout her career, drawing strong local support from her community in northern Brazil.
Personal Life
Lemos resides in Pará, Brazil, where she trains with the Marajó Brothers Team. Beyond her dedication to mixed martial arts, she is known by the nickname “Amandinha” among fans and within the MMA community. Verified details about her marital status, spouse, or children have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Amanda Lemos entered 2025 ranked among the top contenders in the UFC women’s strawweight division and continued her pursuit of another title opportunity. On March 8, 2025, at UFC 313, she earned a unanimous decision victory over Iasmin Lucindo, reinforcing her standing as a top-five fighter and keeping her in the title conversation.
Her scheduled bout with Tatiana Suarez, originally planned for 2024, was rescheduled and ultimately took place on September 13, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 259, where Lemos lost by unanimous decision. A planned matchup with Gillian Robertson at UFC on ESPN 73 in December 2025 was canceled on fight night after Lemos was removed from the card by the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to a mouth injury.
Looking ahead, Lemos remains focused on climbing back into title contention and reestablishing herself as one of the division’s elite finishers. With her experience, regional pedigree, and history of high-level performances against former champions and top-ranked contenders, she continues to be a notable figure in the UFC women’s strawweight landscape.
