UFC 312: Jack Jenkins and Tom Nolan added to stacked line-up as ‘Pharjack’ plans path to the top
Sydney’s UFC 312 line-up is getting stacked as two Aussies are added to the drawcard, with Jack Jenkins declaring his plans to springboard in to the top 15 in 2025.
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Jack Jenkins can be forgiven for being a little impatient.
The horse race loving, golf-playing, AFL tragic featherweight star from Bacchus Marsh in Victoria has had a frustrating past 16 months, with injury slowing his path towards the UFC division’s top 15.
But the 31-year-old says 2025 will be his breakout year, and it starts with a mouth-watering showdown against Gabriel Santos at UFC 312 in Sydney on February 9.
This masthead can reveal Jenkins has been added to the card, while lightweight fighter Toowoomba’s ‘Big Train’ Tom Nolan will fight Viacheslav “Slava Claus” Borshchev on the UFC’s return to Sydney.
Jenkins suffered a horrific elbow injury in his only UFC loss the last time the promotion was in Sydney in August last year.
He rebounded in stunning fashion with a dominant win over Herbert Burns at UFC 305 in Perth four months ago, and wants to springboard in to the top 15 in 2025.
His biggest problem is finding an opponent.
“There were three guys in the top 15 that got offered to fight me, and all three of them flat out refused the fight,” Jenkins told this masthead.
That makes his grand plans for next year a little trickier, but the Sydney Swans diehard has it all planned out.
“I’ve gotta have three fights this year,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll get a win in Sydney, then back up with a win in America.
“You always want to fight in America in front of the big crowds. I need to get my name out over there, because I’ve only had one fight there.
“Then I’ve heard the UFC is coming back to Perth at the end of the year, so I’d be happy to be on that card as well.”
First though, Jenkins must get past Santos, whose 1-2 record in the UFC doesn’t reflect how dangerous he is.
“He’s very well-rounded, and he’s got a wicked guard from his back,” Jenkins said.
“It’s like he’s got his hips on a swivel, and he’s always shooting for armbars and triangles.
“He’s very versatile with his stand-up and can fight well in both stances, which is something I do really well too.
“It’s a great match up in terms of excitement, because we’ll be both setting traps for each other and we’ll make it a real chess match.
“It’s not gonna be boring, it’ll be fast, and very hot and heavy from the start.”
Given Santos’ modest record, Jenkins doesn’t think he’ll get a ranking after beating him, but has a few well-known opponents he wouldn’t mind taking out.
“I’d fight Bryce Mitchell – that’s a good fight – or Edson Barboza, Lerone Murphy,” he said.
“I watched Bryce Mitchell (beat Kron Gracie) the other day, but I’ve got teammates who amateurs who could beat Kron Gracie.
“(Gracie) is grouse at jiu jitsu, but it’s very clear he doesn’t have the wherewithal for MMA.
“But I’d fight any of ‘em, anyone in the top 15. That’s who I want next.”
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Originally published as UFC 312: Jack Jenkins and Tom Nolan added to stacked line-up as ‘Pharjack’ plans path to the top
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