Grappling specialists Malcolm Gordon and Jimmy Flick faced off in a flyweight match to open UFC 297’s early preliminary card.
Flick once had one of the best submissions in the UFC during his debut in 2020, but now he found himself in a much different position after retiring and then losing two straight fights. Flick started 2024 by seeking his first win since that debut, but his opponent, Malcolm Gordon was highly motivated to start the night off strong for the Canadian crowd and other fighters, but in the end his aggression was his downfall.
At the start of the fight Gordon blitzed forward, energized by the home crowd, and forced Flick to look for a takedown. However Gordon was the one who landed the takedown and rained down punches as Flick tried to throw up submissions. Malcolm got somewhat reckless and stuck in a tight triangle choke. It was not enough to force a tap or put him out and, helped by his coolness under pressure, he escaped. Gordon went back to aggressive ground and pound in the last half of the round. Flick worked to build back up but Gordon went for a guillotine with thirty seconds left. However Flick reversed, got on top, and went for a rare Von Flue choke. Gordon puffed hard and was ultimately saved from the position by the end of the round.
Round two began the same way the first did. Jimmy Flick retreated under fire and turtled up, then shot a takedown. This time, he got it as Gordon over-pursued and fell over, allowing Flick to take his back. Gordon rolled to his back but got stuck in an arm triangle on his way. He tried to bridge and explode out but this submission was much tighter than the first two and Gordon was forced to tap.
Immediately after the finish, Flick taunted the Canadian crowd as Malcolm Gordon began to unwrap his gloves immediately, indicating retirement. They embraced before Flick’s post-fight interview, where he promised his gloves from the fight as a gift for his father.
Official Result: Jimmy Flick def. Malcolm Gordon by Submission (arm-triangle choke) Round 2, 1:17
