UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige - Predictions and Picks

#4 UFC Featherweight Division: Chris Fishgold vs. Jared Gordon

Jared Gordon is one of the UFC's most reliable brawlers

This card seems to be chock full of kill-or-be-killed fighters, and the UK’s Fishgold is definitely amongst them. He’s 18-3-1 overall and has been the distance just five times. Of his 18 wins, 13 have come via submission – including his lone win in the UFC over Daniel Teymur.

‘Flash’ Gordon meanwhile is more of a grinding fighter, albeit one who’s more than happy to exchange bombs and go to war. His fight with Joaquim Silva for instance was a ridiculously wild brawl, although Gordon came out on the wrong end of it. And he put a real beating on Hacran Dias back in 2017 purely by being scrappy and willing to push a nasty pace.

The question here then becomes whether Gordon can turn this fight into a dirty brawl and break Fishgold down the stretch. Or whether the Brit can use his superior skills to take ‘Flash Gordon’ out early on.

Personally, I’m leaning towards Fishgold here. The main thing that makes me take him is that whether he loses or wins, Gordon always seems to find himself in trouble early. Even in the fights, he’s won in the UFC, he’s lost the first round – and he’s been finished in it on two occasions.

Against a guy as ruthless as Fishgold – who can finish by both submission or knockout – that puts him into seriously dangerous territory. Gordon will probably come out with some wild aggression in this fight, but unless he hurts Fishgold right away, he’s likely to end up in trouble thanks to the Brit’s skills in all areas.

I like the fight to hit the ground early in the first round – probably after a wild exchange – and I think Fishgold will latch onto a submission and get Gordon out of there.

The Pick: Fishgold via first-round submission