Featherweights
Charles Jourdain (13-6-1, 4-5-1 UFC) vs. Kron Gracie (5-1, 1-1 UFC)He is more curiosity than contender, but it will be interesting to see what Gracie can get done in the UFC in 2023. Gracie made his UFC debut with a win over Alex Caceres in 2019, which marked the first win for the First Family inside the Octagon since 1994, and things essentially remained the same in the 25 years since. Gracie’s striking is on the low end of functional, but he can still run through an opponent willing to test him out on the mat. Unfortunately, Gracie’s sophomore appearance drove home exactly how much of an adventure it can be getting to that point, as Cub Swanson outmaneuvered him for the better part of three rounds, avoided danger and walked away with the clear decision win. It was a performance that actually revealed some promise for Gracie, who at least showed a willingness to keep marching forward for 15 minutes while also absorbing a ton of offense. Rather than build on that performance, Gracie has instead taken about a four-year sabbatical and now suddenly returns for this fight against Jourdain. Quebec’s Jourdain came to the UFC in 2019 as one of the top prospects in Canada, mostly thanks to his striking creativity and ability to catch his regional competition unaware for a finish. The hope was that “Air” could fully unlock his potential by focusing his approach, but instead, he has gone the route of becoming better through sheer experience, keeping up a torrid pace in terms of accepting fights and making it to the cage. Jourdain is still a wildman who essentially looks to keep trying things until something works, and given time and space, he will adjust to his opponent to some great effect. However, he is also just as capable of walking right into his opponent’s type of fight, particularly one who looks to take Jourdain to the ground and neutralize him for multiple rounds. Jourdain should win this on paper, but much like Caceres, this looks like a fight where Gracie’s opponent will be more than willing to let him immediately get to what he does best. The pick is Gracie via first-round submission.
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Sterling vs. Cejudo
Burns vs. Muhammad
Andrade vs. Yan
Evloev vs. Lopes
Jourdain vs. Gracie
The Prelims