Grant Dawson will replace Rafael Alves and lock horns with Jared Gordon in a lightweight scrap at UFC on ESPN 35, as mixedmartialarts.com was first to report. A reason for Alves’ withdrawal was not disclosed. UFC on ESPN 35 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on April 30 and is headlined by a bantamweight duel pitting Rob Font against Marlon Vera.
After earning a contract on Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series, Dawson was victorious in his first five promotional appearances before battling Ricky Glenn to a majority draw in his sixth outing at UFC Fight Night 196 this past October. The Glory MMA & Fitness representative is 2-0-1 at lightweight after beginning his UFC tenure at 145 pounds. He owns a career mark of 17-1-1.
Gordon, 33, has been victorious in his last three UFC appearances. Most recently, the Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product earned a split verdict against Joe Solecki at UFC Fight Night 193 this past October. “Flash” is 6-3 in the Octagon and 18-4 as a professional overall.
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