Jordan Espinosa: ‘I feel like I can get a finish’ vs. Matt Schnell at UFC Newark
Jordan Espinosa checks in with MyMMANews.com to discuss his upcoming fight with Matt Schnell at UFC on ESPN 5. The event emanates at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and the flyweight bout will take place during the main card.
Espinosa, who is riding a five-fight winning streak, discusses his last couple of years — which includes two finishes on Dana White’s Contender Series and an injury withdrawal for a November fight with Mark De La Rosa — his UFC debut against Eric Shelton at UFC Nashville, how he reacted to the fight with Schnell being at 125-pounds, when it all clicked for him in the sport to take him to the next level in MMA, being familiar with his upcoming opponent over the years, the state of the flyweight division, Henry Cejudo’s role in bringing attention to the weight class, his timeline of being in the title discussion and much more.
In terms of how Espinosa sees the fight playing out, he’s prepared for anything. With taking a calm, analytical approach to the fight game, he sees a path to victory that will make the judges’ jobs a little bit easier.
“I try not to focus too much on what’s exactly going to happen because I like to leave my mind open with the ability to adapt,” Espinosa told MyMMANews.com. On the flip side, I’m also a pretty analytical person, by nature. So I have watched film on him and I do make comparisons and see things like, ‘ I can exploit this weakness here, these things could work really well there’. Honestly, I feel like I can get a finish. He’s been finished by submission and he’s been knocked out. I think I can hurt him on the feet and, maybe, force a submission. If not, it will be a three round war and I’m perfectly ok with that.
“Getting a three round win in my first fight was another big notch under my belt. It was a big experience for me just getting three rounds in the Octagon and not finishing a fight in a minute and a half. I would welcome that. I have no problem going to a decision. He’s a tough guy and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did go there.”
Check out the full interview with Jordan Espinosa above.
