The underrated fights to watch at UFC on ESPN 3 in Sunrise, Florida
On Saturday April 27, all the action goes down when UFC touches down in Sunrise, Florida.
Here are some under-the-radar fights to watch for the card.
Gilbert Burns vs Mike Davis
The UFC’s stacked lightweight division keeps on rolling as Gilbert Burns takes on former ‘Island Fights’ Lightweight Champion, Mike Davis. Burns holds a professional record of 14-3, with 5 KOs, 7 submissions, and 2 decisions. He has only been finished one time in his 17-fight professional career. His other two losses were by way of decision. He holds a UFC record of 7-3, with wins over division prospects such as Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Alex Oliveira. In his last fight, Burns fought Olivier Aubin-Mercier at UFC 231, where he was able to grind out a unanimous decision victory.
His opponent, Mike Davis, another ‘Island Fights’ prospect, holds a professional record of 6-1 and will be making his UFC debut in this fight. Within his 6-1 record, all 6 of those wins have came by KO. His 1 loss came by way of decision, when he fought Sodiq Yusuff on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Since then, he’s picked up another win over at Island Fights, finishing Elvin Leon Brito by third-round TKO. Davis is a natural featherweight but he will be moving up to lightweight for this one.
This fight sure seems like it’s going to be a crazy one. A true ‘sleeper’ fight. Don’t miss it!
Carla Esparza vs Virna Jandiroba
The UFC’s strawweight division kicks into high gear as former champion Carla Esparza takes on the undefeated Invicta strawweight champion, Virna Jandiroba. Esparza holds a professional record of 13-6, with 3 KOs, 4 submissions, and 6 decisions. Esparza is coming off of back-to-back losses against top-5 strawweight contenders, Tatiana Suarez and Claudia Gadelha. Her most recent victory came in December of 2017, when she defeated formerly undefeated division prospect, Cynthia Calvillo. Calvillo was 6-0 before dropping a unanimous decision to Esparza.
Her opponent, Virna Jandiroba, holds a professional record of 14-0, with 11 submissions, and 3 decisions. She is a former Invicta strawweight champion, but she never lost her title. In her last performance, she defended her title against Janaisa Morandin and won by second-round submission. Since then, she’s been called up to the UFC to make her debut against former division champion and #5 ranked strawweight in the world, Carla Esparza.
Considering Esparza is coming off back-to-back losses and desperately needs a win, I imagine she brings her A-game into this fight. Also, considering that Jandiroba is an undefeated strawweight champion herself, I would bet that she’s coming for blood also. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this fight.
Thomas Gifford vs Roosevelt Roberts
UFC lightweights clash as Kansas City Fighting Alliance’s Lightweight Champion, Thomas Gifford, meets undefeated prospect Roosevelt Roberts. Gifford holds a professional record of 17-7-2, with 3 KOs and 13 submissions. He is a true finisher. In his last fight, he defended his lightweight title against Trey Ogden and won by first-round submission.
His opponent, Roosevelt Roberts, holds a professional record of 7-0, with 3 KOs, and 4 submissions. He has never lost and never allowed a fight to go to the judges scorecards. Roberts has fought in many promotions, ranging from King of The Cage, to Bellator, to Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter. In his last two fights, he scored a second-round submission on DWTNCS and a first-round submission at the TUF 28 Finale.
Both fighters have high-level jiu jitsu and are looking to make a statement. This fight is sure to deliver, so don’t miss out on the action this weekend.
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