Rivalries: Julio Arce

Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight Julio Arce has encountered fluctuating fortunes since he secured his spot on the roster through Dana White’s Contender Series. Injuries rendered the up-and-comer inactive for a prolonged period, prompting a thorough reassessment, which involved reverting to his old weight category. Despite his best efforts, he has been unable to escape the cycle of win-loss oscillations in his last eight fights, but he remains hopeful that each fight holds the potential to establish the momentum he has been chasing. As he gears up for his next challenge against Herbert Burns at UFC on ESPN 54 this Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Arce aims to deliver a strong performance and stake his claim in the talent-rich bantamweight division.

Before he makes the Octagon walk at Boardwalk Hall, a look at some of the competitive rivalries that have molded Arce’s path in the sport:

Jason McLean

When it comes to the Ring of Combat organization, Arce is a stuff of legend. The American made his promotional debut at ROC 45, securing a unanimous decision win over Dennis Dombrow. He then picked up another victory, this time via submission against Corey Simmons, and subsequently got his shot at the organization’s bantamweight strap against McLean at ROC 47. Arce asserted his dominance through three rounds on his way to a unanimous decision and walked away with ROC bantamweight gold wrapped around his waist.

Brian Kelleher

During his tenure at ROC, Arce engaged in perhaps one of the most riveting rivalries of his career against a future fellow UFC standout in Kelleher. The pair locked horns for the first time at ROC 52, engaging in a hard-fought, three-round, back-and-forth affair that ended with “Boom” walking away with the majority decision and the bantamweight crown. The organization found it fitting to hand Arce an immediate chance at redemption against Kelleher. Their second encounter at ROC 54 witnessed a conclusive ending, as Kelleher secured a Round 3 guillotine choke submission victory over his rival, which paved the way for him to join the UFC.

Dan Ige

Arce made his UFC debut against the current No. 12-ranked featherweight contender at UFC 220. Ige tried his best to control the fight early on, but Arce countered the offense by consistently pressing forward. His dominance became significantly evident in the later rounds, as Ige struggled to mount offense. In the end, the judges scored the bout unanimously in Arce’s favor, as he walked away with a sixth straight victory at that point. Meanwhile, Ige had his six-fight undefeated run snapped in the process.

Andre Ewell

Following an extended break lasting over a year, Arce returned to action against Ewell in July 2021. The first round was fairly well contested, but it was in the second stanza where Arce truly showcased his superiority. The Queens, New York, native stung Ewell with a powerful left hand and continued the assault with a series of strikes. Ewell was unable to respond to the strikes effectively, prompting referee Chris Tognoni to step in and halt the contest at the 3:45 mark of the second round. Although Ewell contested the decision, it was evident that he was visibly hurt. Meanwhile, fight fans witnessed a better version of Arce, who ensured that he did not exhaust himself while looking for the finish.