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…