Latest news with #JordanLeavitt
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jordan Leavitt surprised even himself with quick tap of Kurt Holobaugh at UFC on ESPN 68
Jordan Leavitt surprised even himself with quick tap of Kurt Holobaugh at UFC on ESPN 68 Show Caption Hide Caption Jordan Leavitt reacts to quick finish, takes credit for twerking in MMA UFC on ESPN 68 winner Jordan Leavitt talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his 99-second submission of Kurt Holobaugh in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS – Jordan Leavitt met the media Saturday after his first-round submission win over Kurt Holobaugh at UFC on ESPN 68. Leavitt (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) made easy work of Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC) and finished him in just 99 seconds on the prelims at the UFC Apex. Holobaugh hadn't been finished in nearly seven years. "It's kind of not hit me because I've never even seen someone take Kurt's back like I did," Leavitt said. "He's very savvy. He has great defense – he's only been submitted once, and that was against Shane Burgos, of all people, (in 2018), and that was really fast. "Honestly, I thought I was going to a decision. I thought I would have to wear him down and possibly finish him late, so the fact that I had it happen in under 2 minutes is a very big surprise to me. I'm very blessed and I'm thankful, but I didn't see the fight going that way." Check out Leavitt's post-fight news conference in the video above.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 post-event facts: Women get Fight of the Night after eight-month drought
UFC on ESPN 68 post-event facts: Women get Fight of the Night after eight-month drought The UFC's final event of May was one it will soon want to forget with UFC on ESPN 68 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas being struck by disaster in more ways than one. After multiple cancellations leading into fight night, the original main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was called off due to a medical issue on Barber's side, leaving the card with just nine bouts. There were still some notable results to come out of the chaotic evening. For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 68. Event stats The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $121,500. Debuting fighters went 0-1 at the event. Ramiz Brahimaj, Jordan Leavitt, Alice Ardelean and Rayanne dos Santos earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 68 fight-night bonuses. Ardelean and dos Santos are the first females to get Fight of the Night since September 2024. The UFC sold VIP tickets to fans for UFC on ESPN 68, but the promotion did not make public the total number of tickets sold or the gate. Betting favorites went 6-3 on the card. Betting favorites improved to 12-6 in UFC headliners this year. Total fight time for the nine-bout card was 1:36:45. Mateusz Gamrot def. Ludovit Klein Mateusz Gamrot (25-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has completed 49 takedowns in UFC lightweight competition, the most among active fighters in the weight class. Ludovit Klein (23-5-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC) has suffered two of his three UFC losses by decision. Ramiz Brahimaj def. Billy Ray Goff Brahimaj (12-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage. Billy Ray Goff (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career. Dustin Jacoby def. Bruno Lopes Dustin Jacoby (21-9-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) improved to 9-5-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in October 2020. Bruno Lopes (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has suffered both of his career losses by knockout. Ketlen Vieira def. Macy Chiasson Ketlen Vieira (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has earned eight of her nine UFC victories by decision. Macy Chiasson (10-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has suffered two of her four career losses by decision. Zachary Reese def. Dusko Todorovic Dusko Todorovic (12-6 MMA, 3-6 UFC) fell to 2-6 in his past eight fights after starting his career on a 11-fight winning streak. Allan Nascimento def. Jafel Filho Allan Nascimento (21-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned two of his three UFC victories by decision. Jordan Leavitt def. Kurt Holobaugh Leavitt (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has earned four of his five UFC victories by stoppage. Leavitt has earned seven of his nine career stoppage victories by submission. Bolaji Oki def. Michael Aswell Bolaji Oki (10-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by Michael Aswell (10-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by decision. Alice Ardelean def. Rayanne dos Santos Dos Santos' (14-9 MMA, 0-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn't earned a victory since May 2023. Dos Santos has suffered seven of her nine career losses by decision. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 bonuses: Jordan Leavitt's slick finish gets extra $50K
UFC on ESPN 68 bonuses: Jordan Leavitt's slick finish gets extra $50K The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card in Las Vegas. After UFC on ESPN 68, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances in Las Vegas. Check out the winners below. Performance of the Night: Jordan Leavitt Jordan Leavitt def. Kurt Holobaugh via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 1:39 Jordan Leavitt (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) was back for the first time in 18 months, and he looked as good as ever when he choked Kurt Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC) to sleep in the first round. The bonus was the third of his career. Performance of the Night: Ramiz Brahimaj Ramiz Brahimaj def. Billy Ray Goff via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:16 Ramiz Brahimaj (12-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) had one of the year's most violent-looking submissions yet when he choked out Billy Ray Goff (11-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) with a guillotine along the fence. Fight of the Night: Alice Ardelean vs. Rayanne Dos Santos Alice Ardelean def. Rayanne Dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Alice Ardelean (10-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) got her first UFC win when she outworked the favored Rayanne Dos Santos (14-9 MMA, 0-3 UFC) for a unanimous decision in the curtain jerker on the prelims. Dos Santos was more than a 2-1 favorite in the fight, but Ardelean pulled off the upset.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Jordan Leavitt chokes Kurt Holobaugh out cold in 99 seconds
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Jordan Leavitt chokes Kurt Holobaugh out cold in 99 seconds Jordan Leavitt returned to the octagon from a long layoff at UFC on ESPN 68 and scored one of the most impressive wins of his career against Kurt Holobaugh. Leavitt (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) scored a takedown just seconds into the lightweight contest at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and that was the beginning of the end. Holobaugh (21-10 MMA, 2-7 UFC) tried to scramble, but Leavitt transitioned into an anaconda choke and put his foe to sleep at the 1:39 mark of Round 1. Check out the replay of Leavitt's slick finish below (via X): It was the first time Leavitt had his hand raised since February 2023, and to no surprise, he was thrilled with the result. Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 68 results:
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kurt Holobaugh vs. Jordan Leavitt joins UFC on ESPN 68 lineup
Kurt Holobaugh vs. Jordan Leavitt joins UFC on ESPN 68 lineup A pair of UFC lightweights will look to rebound when they square off in May. Kurt Holobaugh (21-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC) takes on Jordan Leavitt (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in a three-round bout May 31 at UFC on ESPN 68 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Holobaugh, who punched his ticket back to the UFC by winning Season 31 of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2023, has split his past four appearances. After picking up a unanimous decision win over Kaynan Kruschewsky at UFC on ESPN 60 last July, Holobaugh lost a decision to Alexander Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 254 in March. Leavitt, 29, has lost two of his past three. He was able to rebound from his submission loss to Paddy Pimblett in July 2022 by earning a Performance of the Night TKO of Victor Martinez at UFC Fight Night 220 but was submitted by Chase Hooper in his most recent outing in November 2023. With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 68 lineup includes:
