Opinion: Ten Best Fights of UFC 281

Julio Arce Credit: Jay Anderson/Cageside Press
  1. Julio Arce vs Montel Jackson – 9/10

Arce vs Jackson is potentially the most underappreciated fight on the UFC 281 card. Buried on the early prelims, it features two exciting bantamweights who many fans may not know but who are always lethal finishing threats in their lighter weight class.

Jackson uses his extreme length to his advantage not just in his striking, which is reminiscent of Jalin Turner or Kevin Holland, but in his grappling, like when he used his long arms to lock up a d’Arce choke against Brian Kelleher in his best win to date. Arce is a typical Tiger Schulmann protégé, a southpaw who hits hard and accurately. Julio Arce beat Dan Ige and KO’ed Julian Erosa up at 145 but losses to Sheymon Moraes and Hakeem Dawodu, both by split decision, made him decide to move down to 135 where all three of his fights so far have been bangers. First he TKO’ed Andre Ewell, then he lost to a man who is now main eventing in the UFC, Song Yadong, and then beat down exciting newcomer Daniel ‘Wilycat’ Santos at UFC 273 earlier this year. He has been booked against difficult opponents his entire run, and this fight is no different, but finally looks to make a run at the rankings with a win here. This fight is all-action, extremely hard to pick a winner in, and as high level as you can get outside of the rankings.

Arce’s Best Fight: vs Julian Erosa

Jackson’s Best Fight: vs Brian Kelleher