With the clock about to run out on the UFC’s 2023, the promotion is beginning to stack up some can’t-miss matchups for the new year.
Dana White and Co. announced some exciting bouts for its first trio of events in 2024, including a rescheduled meeting between heavyweight contenders Jailton Almeida and Curtis ‘Razor’ Blaydes. But first, fight fans will be treated to a high-stakes strawweight showdown between undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez and one-time UFC title challenger Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 in February.
Tatiana Suarez, (7-0 UFC, 10-0 MMA) has looked practically unstoppable since making her promotional debut all the way back in 2016 when she appeared on season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter. Suarez ran through the competition, winning the tournament and ranking up four more wins before a devastating neck injury put her on the shelf for nearly four years.
Making her return earlier this year, Suarez returned and has earned back-to-back second-round guillotine submissions against Montana De La Rosa and Jessica Andrade. With a win over Lemos at UFC 298, Suarez will likely find herself next in line for a shot at reigning strawweight world champion Zhang Weili.
Tatiana Suarez will fight Amanda Lemos at #UFC298 on February 17th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2024 pic.twitter.com/waOw8zV08E
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) December 12, 2023
Amanda Lemos (7-3 UFC, 13-3-1 MMA) will look to bounce back after coming up short in her first UFC title bid in August. Before that, ‘Amandinha’ scored back-to-back wins over Marina Rodriguez and ‘The Karate Hottie’ Michelle Waterson-Gomez. If Lemos can hand Suarez the first loss of her mixed martial arts career, it could put Lemos right back in the mix for another UFC title opportunity.
Mateusz Gamrot Hopes to Get One Step Closer to a UFC Title Shot Against Rafael dos Anjos
Polish standout Mateusz Gamrot (6-2 UFC, 23-2 MMA) will look to continue his climb toward a lightweight title shot with his return to the Octagon at UFC 299 in March. With four straight wins, including a big victory over Arman Tsarukyan in June 2022, had ‘Gamer’ en route to a golden opportunity. Unfortunately, Gamrot’s plans were derailed following a loss against perennial contender Beneil Dariush.
He has bounced back in a big way with two straight wins against Jalin Turner and Rafael Fiziev. In 2024, Gamrot will test his skills against the other Rafael and former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos.
‘RDA’ (21-13 UFC, 32-15 MMA) recently celebrated his 15th anniversary with the promotion, and throughout his tenure, he has experienced his fair share of ups and downs, but dos Anjos continues to keep at the highest level against some of the promotion’s top contenders. In his last four matchups, ‘RDA’ has earned wins over Renato Moicano and Bryan Barberena while dropping bouts against Rafael Fiziev and Vicente Luque.
Mateusz Gamrot will fight Rafael Dos Anjos at #UFC299 on March 9th. (per UFC website) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2024 pic.twitter.com/JYZ7Xq1zuy
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) December 12, 2023
UFC 298 and 299 are stacking up to be a couple of stellar events thus far. Here are the following bout announced or in the works:
UFC 298, Feb. 17, 2024
- 145lbs.: (C)Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
- 135lbs.: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo
- 265lbs.: Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura
- 115lbs.: Tatiana Suarez vs. Amanda Lemos
- 185lbs.: Anthony Hernandez vs. Ikram Aliskerov
- 265lbs.: Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Justin Tafa
- 205lbs.: Zhang Mingyang vs. Brendson Ribeiro
- 170lbs.: Yusaku Kinoshita vs. Danny Barlow
- 125lbs.: Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick
UFC 299, March 9, 2024
- 135lbs.: (C)Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
- 125lbs.: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Maycee Barber
- 265lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida
- 155lbs.: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos
- 135lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
- 125lbs.: Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva
- 125lbs.: C.J. Vergara vs. Assu Almabayev
