Amanda Lemos was outpointed by Alexia Thainara at UFC Vegas 120, suffering her third consecutive defeat in the Octagon. The 39-year-old former title challenger, who lost a lopsided decision to Zhang Weili at UFC 292 in 2023, said post-fight that she will take time to consider whether she wants to continue fighting. Lemos now sits at 15-7-1 and has dropped four of her last six bouts.
Amanda Lemos revealed she is contemplating retirement following a decision loss to Alexia Thainara at UFC Vegas 120 on August 9, her third consecutive defeat inside the Octagon.
Lemos, 39, entered the bout ranked eighth in the women's strawweight division with a record of 15-7-1, but she could not hold off the younger Brazilian challenger over the course of the fight. Speaking after the bout, Lemos said she will take time away to think about whether she wants to continue her career. The loss extends a rough recent run that has seen her drop four of her last six bouts, a skid that began in earnest when she was dominated by then-champion Zhang Weili at UFC 292 in 2023. A southpaw out of the Marajo Brothers Team, Lemos stands five-foot-four with a 65-inch reach and has built her reputation on precise output, connecting on 55 percent of her significant strikes across her career.
Thainara, nicknamed "Burguesinha," improved to 15-1-0 with the victory and put together a performance consistent with the aggressive style that has defined her rise. The 30-year-old orthodox fighter, also five-foot-four but carrying a slightly longer 67-inch reach, trains out of Ribas Family and is ranked twelfth in the division. Her numbers reflect a high-volume, pressure-oriented approach — she averages 4.62 significant strikes per minute and an exceptional 4.54 takedowns per 15 minutes, making her one of the more well-rounded grapplers in the strawweight ranks.
Why it matters
- Lemos was a ranked title contender as recently as 2023, and her exit from the division would remove a seasoned veteran from the strawweight picture.
- Thainara's win over a top-ten opponent could push her toward the upper half of the rankings and into more prominent matchups.
- The all-Brazil matchup highlighted a generational contrast, with the 30-year-old Thainara potentially stepping into the role Lemos once occupied as a contender to watch.
