Paddy Pimblett has had his highly anticipated return confirmed as he takes on Jordan Leavitt. The Scouse sensation has been rumoured to compete on the London card on July 23rd and has been matched up with a talented grappler in Leavitt.
Paddy Pimblett Returns
Pimblett last fought on March 19th in the O2 arena, beating Mexican Rodrigo Vargas by first-round rear-naked choke after surviving an early onslaught. This takes “The Baddy” to 2-0 in the UFC, both stoppages, endearing him to fans around the globe. The next-generation fighter has been capturing the hearts of many, along with his equally beloved co-worker Molly McCann, earning a contract with American social media giants Barstool Sports.
In the other corner, Jordan Leavitt is a tricky customer. 10-1 overall, with only one loss in four outings in the UFC, the Syndicate MMA fighter has an awkward style with a strong, winding grappling game. Most recently, beating Troy Ogden by split decision, Leavitt will be an interesting opponent, with the two fighters being polar opposites yet having all the same strengths and weaknesses.
The Fight Breakdown
Pimblett is around an inch taller, with a two-inch reach advantage. This comes in handy as he would appear to be the quicker of the two. Leavitt, on the other hand, is much more slow and deliberate, with hard yet awkward kicks causing problems for all of his opponents so far. “The Monkey King”, though, is not a famously hard hitter. This may allow Pimblett to show off more of his ever-evolving stand-up game.
In all likelihood, this one will end up on the mat. Paddy Pimblett is flexible and highly offensive in his guard game, and that is where Leavitt likes to stay.
The event goes down at the O2 arena on July 23rd and is headlined by England’s heavyweight hopeful Tom Aspinall. He takes on perennial contender Curtis Blaydes in the main event.
What do you think of the matchmaking in this one?
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
