UFC on Fox 27 results: Gregor Gillespie gifts us a first round TKO, will go fishing tomorrow

Lightweight prospects Jordan “All Day” Rinaldi and Gregor “the Gift” Gillespie met in the Octagon tonight (Jan. 27, 2018) inside Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, live and free on big Fox. Gregor entered the bout undefeated as a professional, with three UFC wins in a row. Rinaldi had won his last bout via the rare Von Flue choke. Also relevant to the bout? Gillespie is an avid fisherman, so if you follow him on Instagram that is mostly what you will see. Rinaldi, though, was the hometown favorite.

Rinaldi rolled under Gillespie’s counter to open the bout and landed a hook. Gillespie began pressuring relentlessly, landing combinations in exchanges. Rinaldi landed a knee to the body and got away from the single-leg counter, but Gillespie ducked for another single and got it. He looked for a guillotine from the top, then passed guard to side control. He passed into mount, looking immovable on top. Rinaldi gave up the back briefly, then ate a couple punches as he looked for an escape from the bottom. Gillespie was suffocating with his control, but Rinaldi finally used the fence to work back onto his hands and knees. Gillespie didn’t let go, landing knees to the butt from the wrestler’s ride. He took back again and landed hard punches from the top, flattening Rinaldi out and teeing off! That’s enough for the referee, who moves in to save Rinaldi from more damage. Incredible top position pressure grappling from Gillespie, who looked brutally strong once he puts his hands on Rinaldi.

In the post-fight interview, Gillespie said he felt a little awkward on the feet, so he went to what he is best at. He said his coach says wrestling is a good insurance policy, and he agrees. When asked who is next, he says he doesn’t know, but he plans on fishing tomorrow, and gets some cheers for suggesting that North Carolina probably has some good fishing, huh? He is as calm as if he is already on the water, telling the crowd he doesn’t take the booing personally, that he knows they just wanted to support their guy.

Official result: Gregor Gillespie def. Jordan Rinaldi via TKO at 4:47 of Round 1

For complete UFC on Fox 27 results, including play-by-play, click here