UFC Fight Night Preview: Garcia vs. Gordon
Get ready for an exciting lightweight clash at UFC Fight Night 259! Rafa Garcia and Jared Gordon are set to face off on the main card at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom provides a quick breakdown of this compelling matchup.
The Fighters:
- Rafa Garcia (17-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC): Garcia looks to build on his recent unanimous decision win over Vinc Pichel, a victory that helped him recover from a previous loss to Grant Dawson.
- Jared Gordon (21-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC): Gordon is also coming off a win, having defeated Thiago Moises in the first round after a controversial split decision loss to Nasrat Haqparast.
Expert Analysis and Prediction
This lightweight battle promises to be a strategic contest. Despite some arguing that Gordon was robbed in his fight against Paddy Pimblett and potentially should be riding a five-fight win streak, matchmakers are pitting him against the tough and durable Garcia.
While Garcia is a formidable opponent, his strengths align with Gordon's specialties. Gordon has demonstrated superior finishing abilities across various phases of the fight. Although Gordon has shown vulnerability against powerful strikers, Garcia doesn't necessarily fit that profile.
The Prediction:
Dan Tom's expert pick is Gordon by TKO in Round 3.
Betting Odds and How to Watch
According to FanDuel, Jared Gordon is the favorite at -240, while Rafa Garcia is the underdog at +190.
The fight is scheduled to begin around 7:40 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN+.