Jared Flash Gordon Believes He's the More Well-Rounded Fighter Ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia Clash with Nasrat Haqparast

Jared Flash Gordon Believes He's the More Well-Rounded Fighter Ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia Clash with Nasrat Haqparast

Jared ‘Flash’ Gordon considers himself a more versatile fighter compared to Nasrat Haqparast as they prepare for their Lightweight bout at UFC Saudi Arabia. The event, set to take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, will feature notable fighters including top Middleweight contender Robert Whittaker facing the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev.

In an interview with MiddleEasy MMA, Gordon explained his decision to relocate to Dubai several weeks before the fight. He highlighted the importance of acclimating to the time zone difference between South Florida and the Middle East. "My friend Ozzy, a longtime training partner of mine since I was 21, is the head coach at a gym here. Fighting in Saudi Arabia, which is in this time zone, I found it beneficial to come out early and adjust to the eight-hour time change," Gordon said.

Gordon emphasized the impact of jet lag on fight preparation, particularly regarding weight cutting and recovery. "Jet lag is real, especially when you're trying to cut weight and recover. If you can't sleep, it affects everything. I didn't want to cut any corners," he explained. Despite being in Dubai for three weeks, he noted that it took some time to adapt to the new schedule and environment. "I've been here for three weeks, and it really took until the beginning of this past week to get a good sleep schedule. You have to arrive early; otherwise, it affects your recovery and weight cutting."

Looking ahead to his fight against Haqparast, Gordon respects his opponent's abilities but believes he holds the advantage. "It's no secret Haqparast wants to keep it standing. He's more of a boxer, uses his hands more than anything, though he throws kicks and has decent wrestling defense. He's a good fighter, but I think I'm more well-rounded. My ground game is better, and when I take him down, it will show," Gordon stated.

Gordon enters this contest following a significant first-round stoppage victory over Mark Madsen at UFC 296. Reflecting on that fight, Gordon credited his team's preparation. "Madsen was a great win. He's an Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler, a silver medalist. I had the training partners and coaching to prepare me well. My friend Jordan Oliver, an Olympic alternate, and others provided the necessary training. I was able to get the job done, and now I'm fighting his teammate, with Firas Zahabi in the opposite corner again. It's an interesting dynamic," Gordon noted.