The UFC 280 lineup continues to stack.
The latest targeted addition between top contenders is in the women’s strawweight division. The promotion is finalizing a matchup between Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez for the Oct. 22 pay-per-view event on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
A person with knowledge of the matchup Thursday confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie after an initial report by Brazilian outlet Combate. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Lemos (12-2-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) competed as recently as this past Saturday, when she defeated Michelle Waterson by second-round guillotine choke at UFC on ABC 3. The victory returned her into the win column after a loss to Jessica Andrade in April. Lemos is 6-1 in her most recent seven appearances.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez (16-1-2 MMA, 6-1-2 UFC) has seemingly never had higher stock. Prior to Zhang Weili being declared the next title challenger for champion Carla Esparza, many fans and Rodriguez herself thought she would possibly get the next title shot.
UFC president Dana White repeatedly has said Rodriguez is close to title contention. She is coming off four straight victories, including a split decision win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 272 in March.
With the addition, the UFC 280 lineup includes:
- Champion Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – for lightweight title
- Champion Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for bantamweight title
- Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan
- Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
- Sean Brady vs. Belal Muhammad
- Amanda Lemos vs. Marina Rodriguez
