Jordan Espinosa

Jordan Andrew Espinosa (born November 8, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist competing in the flyweight division. He is most notable for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background Espinosa wrestled at West Mesa High School in New Mexico. He won the state championship as a sophomore, placed third as a junior, and finished second his senior year. At the national level, he was a five time Southwest nationals champion.

Espinosa attended the University of New Mexico where he received a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering.

Mixed martial arts career Amateur career Epinosa made his amateur debut in June 2009, beginning his career as a flyweight. His third opponent was Ronnie White, whom he defeated by TKO due to punches. In his fifth amateur fight, he faced Joby Sanchez for the Que Loco CF Bantamweight title. Espinosa lost by submission in the third round. His sixth amateur fight would beagainst Jeremy Robledo. Espinosa won a unanimous decision. Espinosa achieved victory in his next three fights as well, with submission wins over Corey Cline and Noah Gagstatter, as well as a decision victory over Aaron Arvanitis. Espinosa finished his amateur career with a 8–1 record.

Early career Espinosa made his professional debut in 2012 at Fostoria Fight Night, where he faced Joshua Killion. Espinosa won the fight by way of brabo choke.

Prior to appearing on Dana White's Contender Series, Espinosa had amassed a 10–5 record, finishing eight of his ten wins. During this time he won the TSE Bantamweight title, with a decision win over Brett Roller, and had spent the first part of his mixed martial arts career as a bantamweight, and fought two catchweight bouts.

Espinosa faced Nick Urso in a rematch on August 22, 2017, at Dana White's Contender Series 7, after their first fight in the regional circuit ended in a no contest. He won the rematch by a technical submission via a d'arce choke. However, he was not awarded a UFC contract after this win.

Espinosa then faced C.J. Hamilton at an Alliance MMA event in March 2018 and won by split decision.

Returning to the Contender Series, he fought Riley Dutro during Dana White's Contender Series 12. Espinosa won the fight by TKO at the very end of the third round. Following the win, Espinosa was awarded a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Espinosa was scheduled to make his UFC debut on November 10, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez against Mark De La Rosa. However, prior to the fight, Epsinosa suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Joby Sanchez.

Espinosa subsequently made his debut on March 23, 2019, against Eric Shelton at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis. Espinosa won the fight by unanimous decision.

Espinosa's next faced Matt Schnell at UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler on August 3, 2019. He lost in the first round by triangle choke submission.

Espinosa next faced Alex Perez at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos on January 25, 2020. He lost the fight in the first round by technical submission due to an arm triangle choke.

Espinosa was scheduled to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov at a UFC in Kazakhstan on June 13, 2020. However, the event for Kazakhstan was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to a location in the United States.

Espinosa faced Mark De La Rosa at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo on June 13, 2020. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Espinosa faced David Dvořák on September 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Espinosa was expected to face Tim Elliott on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. However, Espinosa tested positive for COVID-19 in late December and the pairing was moved to UFC 259. Espinosa lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On March 11, 2021, it was announced that Espinosa was released from the UFC.

Post-UFC Career

In his first fight since leaving the UFC, Espinosa faced Jose Zarauz at Combate Global - Reyes vs. Gomez on May 20, 2022. He would lose the fight via rear-naked choke late in the second round.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jose Zarauz Submission (rear-naked choke) Combate Global - Reyes vs. Gomez

Miami, Florida, United States Loss

Tim Elliott Decision (unanimous) UFC 259

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

David Dvořák Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mark De La Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Alex Perez Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States Loss

Matt Schnell Submission (triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Eric Shelton Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Riley Dutro TKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 12

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

C.J. Hamilton Decision (split) Alliance MMA at the Arnold Sports Festival

Columbus, Ohio, United States Win

Nick Urso Technical Submission (D'Arce choke) Dana White's Contender Series 7

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bobby Escalante Submission (brabo choke) Global Knockout 9

Jackson, California, United States Loss

Dinis Paiva Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 41 - Bessette vs. Croom

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Brett Roller Decision (unanimous) TSE - Rocky Mountain Rubicon 3

Fountain, Colorado, United States Win

John Dirham TKO (punches) New League Fights - The Takeover

Montpelier, Ohio, United States NC

Nick Urso NC (illegal strikes) Jackson's MMA Series 17

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States Win

Jordan Morales Submission (brabo choke) PA Cage Fight 20

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Rafael de Freitas Decision (unanimous) Legacy Fighting Championship 36

Allen, Texas, United States Win

Jeremy Pender Decision (unanimous) Gladiators of the Cage: The Road to Glory 7

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Loss

Chris Dunn Decision (unanimous) Turf Wars 18

Florence, Kentucky, United States Win

Robert Browning Submission (choke) Bluegrass Brawl 12

Lexington, Kentucky, United States Loss

Rico DiSciullo Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 23

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Loss

Dominic Mazzotta Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiators of the Cage: The North Shore's Rise to Power 3

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Tim Sosa Submission (brabo choke) XFC 25: Boiling Point

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Loss

Andrew Cseh Submission (rear-naked choke) Rocktagon MMA 26: Veni, Vidi, Vici

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

David Vigil Submission Dollar D Promotions: Rattler Rumble

La Junta, Colorado, United States Win

Joshua Killion Submission (brabo choke) Golden Lotus Productions: Fostoria Fight Night

Fostoria, Ohio, United States

Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Noah Gagstatter Submission (strikes) Kentucky Fighting Challenge 07/30/11

Ashland, Kentucky, United States Win

Aaron Arvanitis Decision (unanimous) NAAFS Proving Ground Series 9

Streetsboro, Ohio, United States Win

Corey Cline Submission (arm-triangle choke) Boyz Gone Bad 3

Ashville, Ohio, United States Win

Jeremy Robledo Decision (unanimous) Campus Cage Fights

Alamosa, Colorado, United States Loss

Joby Sanchez Submission Que Loco Cage Fighting - Unstoppable

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

Ronnie White TKO (punches) New Mexico Cage Fighting 4/17/10

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States