Michelle Waterson vs. Amanda Lemos: UFC Fight Night Odds, Prediction

Victorious in five of her past six fights, Lemos has emerged as a lofty -420 favourite on the UFC Long Island odds, while Waterson lags as a +290 underdog as she searches for just her second victory in five contests.

Michelle Waterson Odds

Michelle Waterson looks to rediscover her winning ways in her return to the octagon for the first time in 14 months. Hobbled by injury, the “Karate Hottie” has been idle since suffering a five-round unanimous decision loss to Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 24. But despite her recent struggle to generate steady results, Waterson maintains control of the No. 11 spot on the UFC strawweight rankings.

Known for both a spectacular ability to deliver head kicks and a proven track record as a submission specialist, Waterson has failed to finish an opponent since tallying a first-round tap-out win over Paige VanZant almost six years ago. The 36-year-old American has seen eight of her subsequent nine contests go the distance, with three of her past four clashes going a full five rounds.

But while durability has not been an issue for the Karate Hottie, she looks to have lost a step when engaging opponents while standing up. She was outstruck by a wide 125-88 margin last time out against Rodriguez, and has also struggled to execute takedowns, going 3-for-32 over her past three fights.

Amanda Lemos Odds

While consistent success has eluded Waterson, Amanda Lemos will be aiming to establish herself as a legitimate title contender when she enters the octagon on Saturday night. The talented Brazilian impressed during a recent five-fight win streak that featured three finishes inside five minutes, but hit a major bump in the road with her first-round submission loss to former champion Jessica Andrade in her last outing at UFC Vegas 52.

Currently listed at No. 10 on the UFC strawweight rankings, the 35-year-old has demonstrated her impressive punching power, with seven of her 11 career wins coming by knockout.. She is the all-time leader among UFC featherweights with five knockdowns, and has compiled the shortest average fight time in the 115-pound division, with her contests lasting an average of just 6:52.

Lemos also sports two submission victories, including a speedy first-round win over Miranda Granger in her strawweight debut at UFC Fight Night 155. However, she has also struggled at times when the action hits the mat, with opponents racking up almost 13 minutes of control time over her past six contests.

UFC Fight Night Prediction: Michelle Waterson vs Amanda Lemos

While Lemos has wasted no time in ending previous opponents, she can expect Waterson to absorb plenty of punishment in what fight fans can expect to be a lengthy matchup. Faced with a three-inch reach disadvantage, Waterson’s best hopes of victory lie in her ability to take the action to the mat. But that will be easier said than done against Lemos, who has only been taken down once over her seven previous UFC appearances.

Prediction: Amanda Lemos To Win by KO,TKO, DQ (+190)