Marshall vs Hope at UFC Fight Night: A Choke Specialist Meets a One-Fight Newcomer

Francis Marshall has won five fights by submission, and every one of them was a rear-naked choke. On Saturday, Oct. 31, at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, he faces Dakota Hope in a featherweight bout on the prelims of UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Nolan.

Marshall, 27, "Fire," is from Brick Township, trains at American Top Team and has fought in the UFC since December 2022. He is 10-3, with one knockout, five submissions and four decisions, and he went 5-0 as an amateur. He averages 2.71 takedowns per 15 minutes and stops 89% of the takedowns attempted against him. His most recent fight, in April 2026, was a unanimous-decision win.

Hope, 29, "Huracán," fights out of 4oz Fight Club and is 11-2, with five knockouts, one submission and five decisions; five of his wins came in the first round. His only UFC fight, in April 2026, went three rounds and ended in a split-decision loss. In those 15 minutes he landed 7.07 significant strikes per minute and absorbed 7.00, a one-fight sample. At 5-foot-6½ with a 68½-inch reach, he gives up two and a half inches of height and three and a half of reach to Marshall.

The question: can Hope keep the fight standing, or does Marshall get to the back and look for a sixth rear-naked choke?

The prelims start at 2 p.m. Pacific time and the main card at 5 p.m. Get your seat: Marshall vs Hope tickets.