Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Leavitt Bounce Back?
Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Leavitt Bounce Back?
Tonight's UFC Fight Night will feature an intriguing matchup between lightweights Jordan Leavitt and Victor Martinez. Leavitt has much more UFC-level experience, while Victor Martinez is making his UFC debut. The odds were a perfectly even -110 on either man early in the week, but the odds have shifted slightly toward Leavitt. Can Jordan get back on track after a loss to Paddy Pimblett?
Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: February 25, 2023
- Time: 4:00 PM EDT
- Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Click here for Leavitt vs Martinez odds
Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez Prediction
Leavitt is a tough matchup for anyone, and Martinez is no exception. Leavitt is known for his awkward fighting style, which can be challenging to read. He is proficient in both striking and grappling, thanks to his long limbs. Leavitt had a tough outing in his last fight against Paddy Pimblett, where he lost by submission. However, this loss should not discount Leavitt's skill and potential.
Martinez is making his UFC debut and has limited experience fighting top-level grapplers. He has also suffered two submission losses earlier in his career, which could be a disadvantage against someone like Leavitt, who excels on the ground. Leavitt has a high takedown average of 2.43 per fight, and I expect that he will look to take the fight to the ground and capitalize on his grappling skills.
Given Martinez's relative inexperience in the UFC, it is hard to predict how he will perform, but I wasn't overly impressed by his Dana White's Contender Series fight. He could surprise everyone and put up a tough fight, but Leavitt's skills and experience should give him the edge in this matchup. Leavitt is the more seasoned fighter, and he has faced better opponents than Martinez.
Leavitt's last loss against Pimblett was not an indication of his skill level. It was a close fight, and Pimblett got lucky by trapping Leavitt's arm in a leg triangle, which doesn't happen often. Leavitt is still a prospect in the UFC and has the potential to climb up the rankings quickly once he gets back on track tonight.
Leavitt's ground game is his biggest strength, and he will look to take the fight to the ground and control Martinez from there. Martinez's lack of experience against top-level grapplers will be his undoing in this fight. Leavitt's grappling skills and ability to read his opponents make him a tough matchup for someone making their UFC debut. Leavitt is now 3-2 in the UFC, and most people are overlooking him as a fighter in the lightweight division, but I think he will get a statement win tonight and put his name on notice.
Jordan Leavitt vs. Victor Martinez Pick
- 2 Unit Pick: Jordan Leavitt ML (-120) (Bet $100 to collect $183) Get the best odds, available at FanDuel
- Prop Pick: Leavitt by Submission (+200) (Bet $100 to collect $300) Get the best odds, available at FanDuel
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Article Author
Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.