The Pandemic Era of the UFC has decidedly gone Jared Gordon’s way.
The Astoria, Queens indigenous is 3- about the previous two a long time — the longest unbeaten stretch of his tenure with marketing. He’s competing at a a lot more comfortable body weight: 155 pounds. He even acquired married “American Ninja Warrior” veteran Christina Gambino whom he’s identified considering that initial grade in late October.
Gordon (18-4, 8 finishes) can maintain the hot streak likely on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a get more than Grant Dawson, his opponent for a main-card bout established to air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ (7 p.m. commence).
Even Gordon’s previous defeat is ageing greater these times than when it took place in November 2019, when a surging Charles Oliveira knocked the New Yorker out in the very first round. Within just 18 months, the Brazilian nicknamed “do Bronx” was the light-weight winner. He is established to defend his belt up coming weekend in the UFC 274 fork out-per-perspective headliner from Justin Gaethje.
Oliveira’s gain above Gordon marked his sixth in a row, as the upcoming winner was eventually knowing the prospective quite a few experienced noticed in him nearly a 10 years previously. And, as Gordon tells it, Gambino noticed it coming even as many formerly experienced published him off.
“It’s strange since, following the struggle, my wife was like, ‘He’s gonna be the champion,’ ” Gordon not too long ago advised The Put up via Zoom. “… It almost sounds superior. ‘Oh, my final loss was [to] Charles Oliveira.’ ”
Obviously, Gordon would not head that remaining his latest defeat in perpetuity. To preserve it that way in the short time period, he’ll need to navigate his way past Dawson (17-1-1, 15 finishes), who equally to Gordon has outgrown the featherweight division and settled up a excess weight class.
Gordon’s authentic scheduled opponent, Rafael Alves, bowed out for undisclosed causes about five months just before fight night. Although not unusual, an opponent adjust isn’t best. Nevertheless, there’s loads of upside in now facing Dawson, who is unbeaten in six UFC fights in contrast to Alves’ 1-1 mark with the marketing.
Not that Gordon sights possibly opponent as a lot easier than the other, viewing each men as challenging. But it is basic to see how a great deal a lot more of a springboard to more substantial and far better issues a acquire around Dawson would be than one above Alves, or even other potential opponents the UFC had tried to e book versus him.
“Grant stepped in, and I was unquestionably delighted,” stated Gordon, who now lives and trains in Florida. “Stylistically, it is a wonderful fight for me. And he’s acquired way much more of a title than any of the fellas that [UFC] had offered me [after Alves withdrew].”
Even the bumps in the highway are heading Gordon’s way these days, it would look.
The 33-year-outdated has designs on entering the rankings sooner than afterwards as he — like all 155-pounders on the UFC roster — chases down Oliveira’s gold. His is arguably the most loaded fat course in blended martial arts, so that is no easy feat. But Dawson occupies a place inside the best 25 from equally Tapology and Fight Matrix, which each compile further rankings than many shops and contain fighters from all promotions. A victory could vault Gordon to additional of the job-advancing bouts he craves.
“When I gain,” Gordon declares, “I assume I must get a major-15 [opponent]. I’ll have earned it at that stage.”
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