LONDON – By most accounts, UFC Fight Night 208 represents the biggest fight of his life, but Jordan Leavitt doesn’t anticipate the moment being too big for him.
Paired up with Paddy Pimblett for Saturday’s card at The O2, the spotlight has never been brighter. To Leavitt, though, it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before.
“I feel like if you separate all the flash from this fight, it’s not very interesting at all,” Leavitt told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at media day. “I don’t really follow him on social media, and I didn’t really know about Paddy until his debut. I don’t think I’m going to be starstruck. I don’t really see him as a star. He’s just a guy that’s (2-0) in the UFC, and he fought some guys that had losing records in the UFC. There are plenty of guys on the roster like that. I’m just trying to separate this fight from the flash. On paper, I’m not too interested in this matchup, to be honest.”
It’s not that Leavitt meant Pimblett isn’t a good fighter, nor was he saying “The Baddy” isn’t popular. It’s just from watching tape, Leavitt analyzed a lot of opportunities Pimblett’s past opponents failed to take advantage of and thinks he won’t make the same mistakes.
“I’ve fought, and I’ve sparred with champions,” Leavitt said. “I’ve sparred with title contenders. I’ve seen everything. I’ve sparred 20-plus rounds every week for 10 years. The majority of those were just striking rounds, not even in my wheelhouse. I’ve never been dropped by anyone near my size. I’ve never been hurt in any of my fights. The only time I was cut was a headbutt.
“We’ve done a lot of the same things, me and Paddy. But I’ve done it without taking any damage. No one knows about my chin, because I don’t get hit. So he’s a good fighter. I really like him. I think he’s very entertaining, and I’m kind of a fan. Right now, I like his interviews and all that. But it’s all just work.”
Since the bout was announced in May, the game plan has remained the same for “The Monkey King.”
“Finish the fight, twerk, go home,” Leavitt said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
