The MMA Daily

Preview

The curtain jerker comes in the Lightweight division, as Matt ‘Robo’ Sayles takes on Jordan ‘The Monkey King’ Leavitt. Returning to the octagon for the first time in two years, Sayles will look to get back in the win column. Having lost two of his three fights in the UFC, the time is now for Sayles to right the ship. Meanwhile, Leavitt comes into this fight off his first professional defeat to Claudio Puelles. A fight where Leavitt was thoroughly dominated and controlled on the ground for ten minutes. Prior to the loss, Leavitt had been unbeaten for a little over four years. 

Prediction

This is an intriguing fight to open the card, as Matt Sayles returns to the octagon for the first time in two years and will be moving up to Lightweight. A division in which he has only fought once in his eleven professional fights. Having fought as low as Bantamweight, there is some concern that Sayles may be at a size disadvantage. Primarily a striker who lands with volume, Sayles looks to break opponents with and put them out. With six knockouts in eight victories, Sayles isn’t one to stand in front of. As for Jordan Leavitt, despite falling flat in his most recent fight, he is a solid grappler and submission artist. With five submissions in eight wins, more often than not, being on the ground with Leavitt isn’t the smartest of choices.

As for a prediction, I’m siding with Leavitt. While his last fight was concerning and his striking is as well, the combination of his size advantage and grappling edge should ultimately aid him in getting this fight to the mat. A place where he holds a significant edge. So with that said, I predict that Leavitt wins via submission.