Preview: UFC on ESPN 54 Prelims

Featherweights

Julio Arce (18-6, 5-4 UFC) vs. Herbert Burns (11-4, 2-2 UFC)

ODDS: Arce (-410), Burns (+320)

This is a sneakily crucial fight in terms of momentum, as two featherweights look to return from year-plus layoffs to get back in the win column. Burns has certainly had an up-and-down UFC career through four fights. The brother of welterweight contender Gilbert Burns, “The Blaze” lived up to his nickname in his first two UFC fights, running through Nate Landwehr and Evan Dunham with little issue. However, Daniel Pineda was able to scramble with Burns and pound out a finish, and he had similar issues upon his return after an ensuing two-year layoff. Bill Algeo managed to hang with Burns’ venomous grappling game, and once things started going south for the Brazilian, he essentially imploded. After another 20 months off, Burns looks to regain his hype with a big performance against Arce, who returns to featherweight after 16 months on the shelf. Arce has alternated wins and losses for the majority of his UFC career, which feels about right. A jack of all trades and master of none, Arce is a technically sound and versatile fighter who remains a perennial tough out, but he has struggled against standout athletes like Yadong Song and Montel Jackson. Burns is dangerous and dynamic enough early to be an interesting challenge, but Arce looks capable of surviving that trouble, which might be enough to win this fight all on its own. The pick is Arce via second-round stoppage.

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