Gillian Robertson steps into the co-main event of UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday, 14 March 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, knowing a win could move her directly into the strawweight title picture.
The Canadian grappler meets former title challenger Amanda Lemos in a three-round contest that will likely shape the next challenger for current champion Mackenzie Dern. Robertson enters the bout on a four-fight winning run, while Lemos looks to stabilise her position near the top of the division after a mixed recent spell.
Robertson (16-8) joined the UFC in 2018 and spent several years alternating wins and losses as she tried to find consistency. That has changed over her last five appearances. She has beaten Polyana Viana, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Luana Pinheiro and Marina Rodriguez, with her only defeat in that period coming against Tabatha Ricci. Each win reinforced her reputation as one of the most dangerous grapplers at 115 pounds.
Lemos (15-5-1) has been on the UFC roster since 2017 and already knows what it is like to prepare for the elite. She previously challenged for the strawweight title and has shared the cage with many of the division’s leading names. In her last five bouts, she owns wins over Mackenzie Dern and Iasmin Lucindo, but has come up short against Zhang Weili, Virna Jandiroba and Tatiana Suarez.
The contrast in styles is clear. Lemos is known for power on the feet, uncommon for the strawweight category. Her right hand has produced several finishes, and she uses single, accurate strikes more often than high-output combinations. She complements that with kicks to the legs and body to manage distance and slow forward pressure. When she establishes her preferred range, she can keep opponents on the outside and force them to hesitate before entering.
Robertson, by contrast, builds her game around grappling pressure. She seeks takedowns through the clinch, level changes and scrambles, rarely accepting a prolonged striking battle if she can force a wrestling exchange. On the mat she works through positions with steady progress, using strikes to open up chances for submissions. Rear-naked chokes and arm bars have been recurring finishes in her career.
What often separates Robertson from other grapplers is her willingness to continue chain wrestling. If an initial takedown is defended, she frequently switches to secondary attempts, trips or body locks until she can convert. Even when opponents stand back up, she remains attached and forces them to defend rather than mount their own offence.
The potential stakes are significant. Dern’s title reign is built on high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and a future match-up between two submission specialists in Dern and Robertson would offer a rare stylistic meeting at the top of a division. Lemos, meanwhile, already owns a win over Dern, so another strong performance here would keep her within reach of a rematch for the belt.
SuperSportBet currently lists Robertson as the favourite, a reflection of her recent momentum and the perception that her grappling could neutralise Lemos’ striking power over three rounds. For Lemos, the key will be distance control and takedown defence; for Robertson, early entries and sustained mat pressure.
With rankings often shifting quickly in modern UFC matchmaking, the winner of this co-main event will be well-placed when the promotion looks for the next challenger at 115 pounds. Whether it is Robertson’s grappling surge or Lemos’ proven power that prevails, UFC Vegas 114 is likely to move the strawweight title landscape forward.
