The stacked UFC 280 event has lost a pivotal bout in the Strawweight division.
Speaking with MMA Mania today (Fri., Sept. 2, 2022), No. 3-ranked 115 pound contender, Marina Rodriguez (16-1-2), revealed that her upcoming match up with the No. 8-ranked Amanda Lemos (12-2-1) will no longer take place at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 22, 2022. Rodriguez noted that the bout is still on, it has just been moved back to a later date and she’ll be able to announce the new location soon. No specific reason was given as to why the shift was made.
Additionally, Rodriguez said the fight won’t go down at UFC 281 a matter of weeks later in New York City on Nov. 12, 2022. The division’s title will be on the line that night when Carla Esparza defends versus former champion, Zhang Weili. Stay glued to MMA Mania for the full Rodriguez interview’s release.
Update: MMA Fighting has since confirmed that the fight will take place on the Nov. 5, 2022, UFC Fight Night event. No location has been announced from the promotion as of yet.
Rodriguez currently rides a four fight win streak, recently defeating Yan Xiaonan via split decision at UFC 272 in March 2022. Lemos, on the other hand, rebounded off her first loss at Strawweight, defeating Michelle Waterson with a second round guillotine submission at UFC Long Island in July 2022 (watch highlights).
Despite the change, UFC 280 is still a stacked lineup from top to bottom with a whopping 15 fights. Check it out below:
- 155lbs.: (C) – Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev
- 135lbs.: (C)Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw
- 135lbs.: Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley
- 155lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
- 125lbs.: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
- 170lbs.: Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady
- 185lbs.: Makhmud Muradov vs. Caio Borralho
- 205lbs.: Nikita Krylov vs. Volkan Oezdemir
- 145lbs.: Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lucas Almeida
- 155lbs.: Jamie Mullarkey vs. Magomed Mustafaev
- 125lbs.: Malcolm Gordon vs. Muhammad Mokaev
- 170lbs.: Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs Gadzhi Omargadzhiev
- 185lbs.: Armen Petrosyan vs. A.J. Dobson
- 135lbs.: Lina Länsberg vs. Karol Rosa
- 265lbs.: Parker Porter vs. Hamdy Abdelwahab