Amanda Lemos Blitzes Marina Rodriguez, Prompts Stoppage atop UFC Fight Night 214

Amanda Lemos possesses the great equalizer: kill-switch punching power.

Lemos moved ever closer to the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division, as she took out Marina Rodriguez with punches in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 214 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Rodriguez (16-2-2, 6-2-2 UFC), though still standing, succumbed to blows 54 seconds into Round 3.

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After a tepid first round, Lemos (13-2-1, 7-2 UFC) switched gears, executed a trip takedown and eventually progressed to the back in the second. She threatened with a neck crank, then cut off an escape by transitioning to top position, settling in half guard and bleeding valuable time off the clock. Lemos backed up the Thai Brasil star with a thudding right hand early in Round 3, pressed her into the fence and let fly with winging hooks from both hands. Rodriguez offered nothing in response, prompting referee Jason Herzog to rush in to save her.

Magny Choke Taps Rodriguez

Neil Magny passed the great Georges St. Pierre for most wins in the history of the welterweight division, as he submitted Syndicate MMA export Daniel Rodriguez with a brabo choke in the third round of their co-main event at 170 pounds. Magny (27-9, 20-8 UFC) drew the curtain 3:33 into Round 3.

Rodriguez (17-3, 7-2 UFC) forced “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 semifinalist out of his comfort zone for much of the bout. He was particularly effective at the end of the first round and into the second, where he unleashed his jab and forced Magny backward with stabbing left hands. Rodriguez staggered the Elevation Fight Team mainstay with another left in Round 3 but allowed him to duck into a takedown. After a mat return, Magny snapped down on the choke when his counterpart tried to return to his feet. Rodriguez exhausted all options in a bid to extricate himself, to no avail.

The loss snapped a four-fight winning streak for Rodriguez.

Shayilan Buries Injured Minner

China Top Team standout Nuerdanbieke Shayilan disposed of Darrick Minner with punches and elbows in the first round of their featherweight feature. Shayilan (39-10, 3-1 UFC) finished it 67 seconds into Round 1, as he extended his winning streak to three fights.

The 32-year-old Minner (27-13, 2-4 UFC) appeared to suffer a knee injury while throwing a body kick, retreated to the fence in visible distress and absorbed a knee to the head. He retreated to the canvas but found no refuge there, as Shayilan moved into top position and prompted the stoppage with extended volley of punches and elbows.

Minner has suffered three consecutive defeats.

Ulanbekov Guillotine Vanquishes Maness

Former Fight Nights Global champion Tagir Ulanbekov rebounded from his March 5 decision defeat to Tim Elliott and submitted Nathan Maness with a standing high-elbow guillotine choke in the first round of their flyweight showcase. Maness (14-3, 3-2 UFC) raised the white flag of surrender 2:11 into Round 1.

Ulanbekov (14-2, 3-1 UFC) delivered a takedown inside the first minute and never looked back. He applied his ground-and-pound, stacked Maness along the fence and passed guard. Ulanbekov caught the guillotine as the onetime TKO Major League MMA titleholder rose to his feet and then tightened his squeeze until the job was done.

The 31-year-old Ulanbekov has rattled off six wins in seven appearances.

Dawson Throttles Unbeaten Madsen

American Top Team’s Grant Dawson put away the previously unbeaten Mark O. Madsen with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their lightweight attraction. Dawson (19-1-1, 7-0-1 UFC), who missed weight for the match by 1.5 pounds, brought it to a close 2:05 into Round 3.

Madsen (12-1, 4-1 UFC) buckled his counterpart with a right cross in the first round but was otherwise ineffective. Dawson tore into the onetime Olympic silver medalist with devastating kicks to the lower leg and struck for takedowns in all three rounds. He pushed into full mount in the third, progressed to the back, broke down Madsen and cinched the rear-naked choke.

Dawson has not lost since April 30, 2016.

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