Strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has withdrawn from her UFC 298 matchup against Amanda Lemos due to injury. Stepping in to replace her is Mackenzie Dern, who will now face Lemos in the strawweight bout on February 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
The Suarez vs. Lemos fight was slated to headline the ESPN/ESPN+ portion of the prelims for UFC 298, and it is expected that Lemos vs. Dern will retain the same position on the fight card.
Suarez, The Ultimate Fighter 23 winner, recently returned to the MMA scene after a four-year layoff due to injuries. Her impressive victories over Montana De La Rosa and Jessica Andrade earned her the No. 2 spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Anticipations were that a win over Lemos would secure Suarez a title shot in the strawweight division.
Dern, currently ranked No. 9, looks to rebound after a TKO loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 295. Known for her grappling prowess, Dern aims to make a statement in the division with a strong performance against Lemos.
The UFC 298 event features a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. The addition of Dern vs. Lemos adds further intrigue to an already exciting fight card.
Stay tuned for this compelling showdown between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Lemos at UFC 298.
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