Rafa Garcia
Gifted
Mexico
Pulls upset of Jared Gordon
Garcia defeated Jared Gordon via TKO (elbows) at 2:27 of Round 2 at UFC Noche on Saturday in San Antonio.
ANALYSIS
Garcia continues the best run of his UFC career at age 31. Entering as a +150 underdog against an opponent known for his output and pace, Rafa simply outworked Gordon. He closed with a 91-65 edge in significant strikes landed. He also connected on 2-of-3 takedown attempts and was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight when a Round 3 knockdown led to the finish. Garcia is 4-1 in his past five fights dating back to December 2022, with the lone defeat during that stretch coming against a legitimate contender in Grant Dawson. Things are looking up for Rafa.
Garcia continues the best run of his UFC career at age 31. Entering as a +150 underdog against an opponent known for his output and pace, Rafa simply outworked Gordon. He closed with a 91-65 edge in significant strikes landed. He also connected on 2-of-3 takedown attempts and was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight when a Round 3 knockdown led to the finish. Garcia is 4-1 in his past five fights dating back to December 2022, with the lone defeat during that stretch coming against a legitimate contender in Grant Dawson. Things are looking up for Rafa.
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Scheduled for UFC San Antonio
Garcia is scheduled to compete against Jared Gordon in a lightweight fight at UFC San Antonio on Sept. 13, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Garcia and Gordon will look to go 2-0 in 2025. The latter knocked out Thiago Moises in May, and the former outlasted Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC Mexico on March 29.
Garcia and Gordon will look to go 2-0 in 2025. The latter knocked out Thiago Moises in May, and the former outlasted Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC Mexico on March 29.
Earns win in native Mexico
Garcia defeated Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
Garcia was outworked by Pichel a good portion of this fight, and that's not what you want to see as a -375 favorite. The former won the total strike battle by a 79-64 count, but Rafa certainly landed the more notable blows, in addition to connecting on 2-of-6 takedown attempts. Never known as a cardio machine himself, Garcia dominated Pichel in Round 3 when the fight very easily could have been on the line. Garcia's 5-2 record over his past seven fights is strong, but his ceiling is severely limited by the fact he has just one knockout win in his pro career.
Garcia was outworked by Pichel a good portion of this fight, and that's not what you want to see as a -375 favorite. The former won the total strike battle by a 79-64 count, but Rafa certainly landed the more notable blows, in addition to connecting on 2-of-6 takedown attempts. Never known as a cardio machine himself, Garcia dominated Pichel in Round 3 when the fight very easily could have been on the line. Garcia's 5-2 record over his past seven fights is strong, but his ceiling is severely limited by the fact he has just one knockout win in his pro career.
Fighting Pichel instead of Silva
Garcia will now fight Vinc Pichel at UFC Mexico on March 29 instead of Joaquim Silva, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Garcia was originally scheduled to fight Joaquim Silva, but Silva has been replaced by Vinc Pichel for undisclosed reasons. Garcia has a disadvantage in height (three inches) and reach (two inches) versus Pichel, but he will undoubtedly have the crowd behind him in his home country.
Garcia was originally scheduled to fight Joaquim Silva, but Silva has been replaced by Vinc Pichel for undisclosed reasons. Garcia has a disadvantage in height (three inches) and reach (two inches) versus Pichel, but he will undoubtedly have the crowd behind him in his home country.
Scheduled for UFC Mexico
Garcia is scheduled to compete against Joaquim Silva in a lightweight fight at UFC Mexico on March 29, according to Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes.
ANALYSIS
In his home country, Garcia will have an opportunity to bounce back from a lopsided defeat via TKO at the hands of Grant Dawson. Garcia will look for his first competitive fight and win since 2022.
In his home country, Garcia will have an opportunity to bounce back from a lopsided defeat via TKO at the hands of Grant Dawson. Garcia will look for his first competitive fight and win since 2022.
Dominated by Grant Dawson
Garcia lost to Grant Dawson via TKO (strikes) at 1:42 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Garcia wasn't the least bit competitive as the second-largest underdog on the card at +260. He was fine for about a minute or so when the two men were on the feet, but once Dawson went to his grappling game, it was over. Garcia offered zero resistance on the mat in Round 1, and Dawson went right back to the well in Round 2, scoring another takedown and pounding his way to the stoppage. Rafa has proven to be reasonable roster depth in his three-plus years with the company, but UFC brass can't be matching him up against the likes of guys like Dawson.
Garcia wasn't the least bit competitive as the second-largest underdog on the card at +260. He was fine for about a minute or so when the two men were on the feet, but once Dawson went to his grappling game, it was over. Garcia offered zero resistance on the mat in Round 1, and Dawson went right back to the well in Round 2, scoring another takedown and pounding his way to the stoppage. Rafa has proven to be reasonable roster depth in his three-plus years with the company, but UFC brass can't be matching him up against the likes of guys like Dawson.