Athletes
Malcolm Gordon’s New Beginning
With His UFC Jitters Out Of The Way, Malcolm Gordon Is Back And More Confident Than Ever Heading Into UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs Moises
Malcolm Gordon will be the first to tell you that his UFC career didn’t get off to the start that he expected it to. And back-to-back first-round losses forced the Canadian flyweight to take a deeper look at the reasons for his less than stellar UFC beginning.
The process wasn’t easy, as Gordon had to look at the people around him and search within himself to see what ingredients weren’t working. He would go on to make some changes and take some time away to come to terms with his skill set and determine what the right path was for his growth as a mixed martial artist.
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It was a trying time, but it was exactly what Gordon needed to get his confidence back.
“Immediately after the last fight I knew exactly what I had to do. It was going to take a huge sacrifice and some people’s feelings were going to get hurt, unfortunately. That was never my intention, but for the better of my career I needed to make these choices,” Gordon told UFC.com. “I had to put myself in those uncomfortable positions and work with a new surrounding group of people to get my confidence back.”
"I finally feel like this is where I belong."
— UFC News (@UFCNews) July 15, 2021
Malcolm Gordon went back to the drawing board after his last fight and now he feels ready to get his first UFC win at #UFCVegas31 🔉⬆️ pic.twitter.com/TnySloAFVQ
“You go from a five-fight win streak to taking two losses back-to-back in under a round in the UFC,” Gordon continued. “You get a lot of doubters, and a lot of doubt comes into your head and that process is difficult to pull yourself out of without being surrounded by the right people and I found the right people, the right team and I feel confident again.”
Confidence has always been the catalyst for Gordon. It’s what helped the 31-year-old shoot out to a 12-3 record prior to entering the UFC and it’s what he believes will help him notch his first UFC victory. Another key factor to his success was his high-level grappling, which is something that Gordon believes he didn’t utilize enough in his bouts with Sumudaerji and Amir Albazi.
Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Moises
“I’ve been primarily a grappler and dominant on the ground in my wrestling and I kind of let that slide by not honing my craft,” Gordon said. “I was forgetting who I am, essentially, and what got me here in the first place.”
Gordon admits that he fell victim to the UFC jitters in his first two fights in the Octagon and even though his upcoming fight with Francisco Figueiredo is critical, he’s heading into UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs Moises with a whole new mindset.
Best Finishes From Saturday's Fighters | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Moises
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Best Finishes From Saturday's Fighters | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Moises
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“I remember the first time I came here I was just so star struck and everything about the whole process was kind of intimidating. But now I feel like this is like a home for me; this is where I belong. Now I just need to go out there and showcase this,” Gordon said. “At first, you’re getting wrapped up in the hype of representing your country, ‘Canada this,’ and then obviously all that stuff is still relevant but, most importantly, this one is just for me because I know that I’m so much better than I’ve showcased.”
By fighting for himself, Gordon left no stone unturned in training and he prepared his body and mind for the challenges that Figueiredo will present on July 17. That’s why Gordon is more confident than ever and that’s why it will be all the sweeter when he gets his hand raised in the Octagon for the first time.
“It’s going to mean the world for me. I owe it to myself,” Gordon said. “I’ve been watching this sport since I was a child. To be here and to get that win is going to be the highlight of my career, but it’s just the beginning of my career and that’s how I really do feel.”
Watch Gordon take on Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs Moises! The main card starts on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10pm ET / 7pm PT, with the prelims getting underway at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.
