Jared Gordon looking for high-paced, violent fight vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC on ESPN+ 22

Jared Gordon wants to bring the fight to Charles Oliveira.

Gordon (15-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will head to enemy territory when he takes on Oliveira (27-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a fight in which a win could put him into the 155-pound rankings.

The matchup came as a surprise to many, as Gordon snapped a two-fight losing skid with a unanimous-decision win over Dan Moret in June, whereas the surging Oliveira has won his last five in a row.

But for Gordon, it’s an opportunity to enter the upper echelon of the division, though he admits that Oliveira wasn’t the initial opponent he was offered.

“I was originally offered Leo Santos,” Gordon told MMA Junkie. “I said yes then a week later my manager called me back and said Leo is out and Oliveira is in, do I want that? I said ‘of course.’”

Oliveira is known for his high-level grappling and finishing ability. He has finished all but two of his 27 victories, but Gordon is aware of the dangers Oliveira brings to the table, as he looks to be the one controlling the pace of the fight.

“I’m not so worried about what he’s going to do to me, but what I will do to him,” Gordon said. “If you let him get going he does well. I want to make it a dirty fight and push the pace.”

“No prediction besides a high paced violent fight.”

Training out of Milwaukee’s Roufusport, Gordon’s team is 2-0 vs. Oliveira, where his teammates Anthony Pettis and Paul Felder have both picked up finishes over the Brazilian submission ace.

So Gordon is confident with his preparation.

“I spoke to Felder once about it, but nothing I didn’t already know,” Gordon said. Also Pettis fought him and he gave me some pointers as well. I brought in one guy to mimic his style on the ground but a lot of my teammates can mimic his style on the feet as well.”

Gordon is familiar with fighting in Brazil, Sao Paulo specifically, as he picked up a unanimous-decision win over Hacran Dias in 2017, so it’s nothing he hasn’t experienced before.

“Everyone I fought has been in their hometowns,” Gordon said. “It’s no different. It’s a long flight but not much of a time difference so I’m just gonna do what I normally do.”

And where would a win over the streaking Oliveira put Gordon in the division? Gordon hopes he’ll have a number next to his name after Nov. 16, as he believes he has a lot of untapped potential.

“Hopefully I’m ranked after this fight,” Gordon said. “I had some unfortunate events take place before, and during my two losses in the UFC. I think I’m flying under the radar with how good I really am, which is good for me.”