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Lightweight Turns in Phenomenal Performance on Apex Undercard Saturday

Originally posted on MMA Sucka | By Drew Zuhosky | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 12:26 AM ET

Jordan Leavitt (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), a 2020 graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, touched down in Enterprise, NV for UFC Vegas 107 this past weekend having not made the walk to the famous UFC Octagon since the fall of 2023. Back then, Leavitt went to the selfsame Apex facility to fight Chase Hooper (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3 UFC) on the main card that evening.

That night, he tasted defeat at his opponent’s hands, losing by way of first-round submission due to rear-naked choke with just under three minutes having elapsed from the clock. From there, Jordan Leavitt took more than a year’s time off before returning in a grappling match in Karate Combat 46 against Ethan Crenlinstein, losing on points.

A planned February fight in UFC Riyadh versus Abdul-Kareem al-Selwady (15-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) went unrealized after Jordan Leavitt withdrew from the card for reasons unknown. Thus, he entered UFC Vegas 107 wanting to fight with frustration.

Jordan Leavitt Makes Quick Work of Kurt Holobaugh on Saturday Night

This past Saturday, Leavitt made his first appearance in a combat sports event in slightly over a year when he squared off against Kurt Holobaugh (21-10, 1 NC MMA, 2-7 UFC), a 2018 alumnus of the Tuesday night summer MMA promotion. If you have yet to watch the card via ESPN+ on playback, you might not want to look away from the screen during this particular fight.

During the first round of a scheduled three on the prelims this weekend, Leavitt immediately assumed side control on the ground after a takedown before transitioning to top position. After putting Kurt Holobaugh up against the cage fence, Jordan Leavitt dropped Holobaugh a second time by way of a slam.

This was a vicious fight for as long as it lasted on Saturday evening, with Leavitt applying the torque to lock up an anaconda choke submission, forcing Holobaugh to tap out in less than two minutes.

“Jordan Leavitt is a bad, bad man, ladies and gentlemen,” said Laura Sanko, who worked UFC Vegas 107 as an analyst over the weekend.

Jordan Leavitt Scores $50K Bonus Following UFC Vegas 107

In the aftermath of Saturday’s card, an event marred by the last-minute postponement of the Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber contest due to a medical issue involving the latter, Leavitt was awarded the $50,000 (USD) Performance of the Night Bonus for his efforts during the prelims. Immediately following the submission, the victorious Leavitt spoke with UFC Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Cormier.

“First things first: All glory to God. Praise Him,” Jordan Leavitt began. “A year and a half out, sometimes you think you forget how to do this. I’m walking out here, no nerves, waiting for the nerves to hit. Then, I was moving well, and I got the submission early, earlier than I anticipated. I think I’m a fighter! I don’t know.”

Later in the interview, Leavitt walked “DC” through what it took to end the fight inside the opening round.

“I had a challenge in my mind coming in here,” he said. “I landed one kick, so one strike, one takedown, one submission, pretty good night!”

Leavitt Talks Hardships During Layoff From Competition

Backstage, Leavitt met with the assembled media and opened up about his lengthy hiatus from action.

“It was horrible, if I’m being honest,” Jordan Leavitt said. “I’ve been doing this since I was 18, and I’m not sure who I am without the cage fights on the horizon. I’m not going to lie: I was struggling with my mental health, my spiritual health. I didn’t know where I was supposed to be. I didn’t know if I was supposed to be doing this anymore. I was just training and I was just grinding and just trying to keep faith, know that I’m going to be provided for. It was a very humbling 18 months.”

Jordan Leavitt Biggest Winner of Saturday Night

There’s no shame in taking time out for one’s mental health. Sometimes in life, people have to step back and get a sense of where they are and where they want to go.

For Leavitt, the time away from the Octagon worked absolute wonders. Now that he’s been afforded a clean bill of health, if he’s able to consistently win fights, he could be a fighter to watch in the 155-lb division in MMA’s No. 1 promotion.

While Jordan Leavitt’s next opponent inside the cage is unknown, he’ll have the will to win next time out.

This article first appeared on MMA Sucka and was syndicated with permission.

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