(This story was originally published on Jan. 25, 2018.)

MMAjunkie Radio co-host and MMAjunkie contributor Dan Tom provides an in-depth breakdown of the fights at UFC on FOX 27. Today, we look at the rest of the main card.

UFC on FOX 27 takes place today at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., and the main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Also see:

• UFC on FOX 27 main-event breakdown: Will Derek Brunson avenge his loss to ‘Jacare’ Souza?
• UFC on FOX 27 co-main event breakdown: Can Andre Fili pull off mild upset of Dennis Bermudez?

Jordan Rinaldi (13-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’10” Age: 30 Weight: 155 lbs. Reach: 72″
• Last fight: Submission win over Alvaro Herrera (Aug. 5, 2017)
• Camp: Team R.O.C. (North Carolina)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 1 KO victory
+ 8 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ consistent pace and pressure
+ Improved overall striking
^ Footwork, feints and combos
+ Accurate leg kicks
+ Strong inside of the clinch
+ Solid takedown ability
^ Works well from body lock
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Good back take and scrambler
+ Active and attacking guard

Gregor Gillespie (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’9″ Age: 31 Weight: 155 lbs. Reach: 71″
• Last fight: Submission win over Jason Gonzalez (Sept. 16, 2017)
• Camp: Bellmore Kickboxing Academy (New York)
• Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA title
+ 4x Division 1 All-American wrestler
+ NCAA national champion
+ 4 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Improved overall striking
^ Accurate left hand
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Strikes well off the breaks
+ Superb wrestling ability
^ Well-timed takedowns and chains
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Floats and transitions seamlessly

Summary:

In a matchup of lightweight hopefuls, Jordan Rinaldi will welcome Gregor Gillespie to his backyard in North Carolina.

Coming off of an impressive win via Von Flue choke, Rinaldi is looking to continue his climb up the division by taking out one of its prized prospects. Gillespie, a highly accoladed collegiate wrestler, will be attempting to stay undefeated in hostile territory.

Starting off on the feet, we have a pairing of two grapplers who have been steadily developing their striking games.

Rinaldi, the more experienced fighter, has made marked improvements since his stint on Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” From his time spent training muay Thai in Las Vegas with “One-Kick” Nick Blomgren to his cross-training down South at Upstate Karate with Stephen Thompson, Rinaldi seems to find a healthy balance between both styles that suits him.

Keeping a wide stance, Rinaldi will bounce in and out of range, doing a much better job of pivoting, feinting and changing his level. Once finding a look to his liking, Rinaldi will come in behind an onslaught of hooks and crosses, occasionally attaching hard leg kicks.

Typically doing so with the intention of getting in close, the 30-year-old has no issue in switching off to uppercuts and dirty boxing tactics when wrestling opportunities don’t materialize. And considering whom Rinaldi is facing, that could be the case.

Despite coming into MMA as a highly accomplished wrestler who relied on getting fights to the floor, Gillespie would quietly craft his striking under the care of Keith Trimble and the Bellmore Kickboxing Academy, knowing that those skills would be crucial for fueling his transition game.

Utilizing improved feints and footwork, Gillespie will work behind an active left hand, pumping jabs or variating hooks with impressive instincts and accuracy. Not afraid to follow up with crosses that come straight down the pipe, the New York native will typically hedge his bets with a level-changing shot.

Given that both fighters will be seeking out the same thing on the feet, I suspect that the wrestling exchanges could be a deciding factor for this contest.

Although Rinaldi has collegiate wrestling experience himself, it is nowhere near the level of the Division 1 NCAA national champion.

Whether he is shooting in the open or chaining off attempts against the fence, Gillespie appears to be an undeniable force whose skills translate well off paper. Not only can the All-American wrestle, but he seems to have a natural taste for the grappling arts as well.

Gillespie, like many wrestlers in MMA, knows how to ride or control positions well. But not many wrestle-first fighters are typically comfortable putting their hooks in or committing to fight-ending positions.

Not Gillespie.

Once hitting the mat, the New Yorker will immediately get to work by taking away his opponent’s levers and posts, closing escape routes in the process. Capitalizing on what his counterpart gives him, Gillespie will usually work his way toward mount – a position he closes the show well from.

Even when achieving the mount on competent grapplers who had size and strength edges, Gillespie was able to ride out the hip humps and bucks, floating his way seamlessly to retain position.

That said, Gillespie will have to be disciplined and firing on all cylinders if he means to grapple with Rinaldi.

A talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt under Sergio Pena, Rinaldi is a deceptive threat in transition. No stranger to the scramble, the 8-year pro will look to use any excuse for space to get to a more advantageous position.

A bloodthirsty back-taker, Rinaldi will unabashedly work for these positions whether he is in on a body lock or in the midst of a wild scramble. Should Gillespie get careless or find himself turtling to stand, then we could see the momentum of this matchup dramatically shift.

The oddsmakers and public don’t seem too optimistic in any large sways of fortune, listing Gillespie -570 and Rinaldi +435 as of this writing.

As many events in recent history have taught us, don’t count out the hometown fighter. However, I can completely understand the confidence in Gillespie.

The word prospect gets thrown around often, but I do believe that Gillespie, whose style is reminiscent of a more aggressive Frankie Edgar, could be something special. Although Rinaldi snatching Gillespie’s back is not beyond possibility, it just hard to not see the New Yorker as the one who dictates terms. The pick is Gillespie by a dominating decision win.

Official pick: Gillespie by decision