Matt Sayles

Jordan Leavitt vs. Matt Sayles

Round 1
We’re here! The final UFC fight card of the year is upon us, and a lucky number of fights (13) will make it to the finish line. Fights from the heaviest weight class to the lightest on the roster will treat fans across UFC Fight Night 199. We begin in the lightweight division, when Leavitt (8-1, 1-1 UFC) and the returning Sayles (8-3, 1-2 UFC) aim for their second wins inside the Octagon in this fun grappler vs. striker battle. Referee Chris Tognoni will preside over the first match of the evening, and the 155ers touch gloves to start the night. They start hand-fighting early on to find their range, and Leavitt kicks at his foe a few times right at the knee. Sayles fakes a knee-tap, and Leavitt goes up high with a front kick that skims Sayles’ face and shakes him up a little. “Robo” gathers himself in time to stop a clinch attempt that could have turned into a takedown from Leavitt, and he cocks back his right hand but does not let it go. Leavitt keeps his distance, skirting around on the outside of the cage, and he gets off a few kicks. Sayles jumps forward with a clubbing right hand, and whether because it hurt him or because he was setting a trap, Leavitt falls to his knees to pursue a takedown. Sayles stands him back up, only to wind up in a clinch where Leavitt pursues an inside trip. Leavitt drops to his knees, and Sayles flirts with a standing guillotine choke and presses his opponent to the wire with it. Leavitt pops his head out, hits the trip he was searching for, and puts Sayles on his back. “The Monkey King” climbs into half guard when Sayles hits the mat, and he starts to soften Sayles up with a few hammerfists and elbows. For good measure, he drops down a knee to the body, and Sayles fights his way to the wall so he can walk up. When he attempts to scramble, Leavitt scales him into mount, but he gets bucked off when Sayles gets his neck up against the fence. Sayles turns, and Leavitt wraps his arms around his opponent’s neck to set up an anaconda choke. Sayles twists and turns, all while Leavitt has the neck tied up, and they continue to roll through positions. As Sayles fights off the grip, Leavitt chains through to tie up a guillotine choke, but Sayles frees himself and gets back up for a moment. The Syndicate MMA fighter circles around to take Sayles’ back, but Sayles pushes off and smacks Leavitt a few times with looping punches right before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Leavitt

Round 2
They touch gloves to start off the round again, and Sayles goes low right after with a punch to the body. Leavitt looks to kick him in the face in response, only for Sayles to duck out of the way and circle on the outside of the fence. Sayles paws out a few left hands and kicks the leg, and they start smiling as they land on one another. Leavitt tries to shoot in for a takedown in close range, but Sayles sprawls and gets back to his feet to throw hands at his opponent. Leavitt appears out of sorts when engaging in a striking battle, kicking instead of punching and flopping around a little. Sayles pushes them out of the way to lance him with an overhand right, and Leavitt grabs hold of him. Pulling guard, Leavitt hits the ground while tying up a guillotine choke, but it is not there.
As Sayles wrenches himself free, they both hit the mat, and Leavitt slaps on an inverted triangle choke while Sayles is on his knees. Leavitt keeps tightly squeezed as he cinches up his legs, and Sayles is suddenly in big trouble as he is stuck in an awkward position with Leavitt holding on to him from the side as well. With no way out, Sayles taps on Leavitt’s backside with his fingers.
In his post-fight interview, Leavitt claims it is a “Monkey King” specialty, as he pulled off a maneuver rarely seen inside the Octagon.

The Official Result
Jordan Leavitt def. Matt Sayles R2 2:05 via Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke)

Bryce Mitchell vs. Matt Sayles

Round 1
In a 149-pound catchweight encounter, Mitchell (11-0, 2-0 UFC) tries to keep his unbeaten record intact against the heavier Sayles (8-2, 1-1 UFC). Our octagon ranger for this bout is referee Dan Miragliotta. There is no touch of gloves, as these two are right down to the business with a side kick to the midsection from Mitchell. As Sayles walks through it, Mitchell runs forward and hits a takedown. Mitchell advances quickly to side control, starts to pursue an arm-triangle choke, and abandons it when hopping to half guard. Mitchell slices through his opponent's guard and starts slamming down elbows, forcing Sayles to turn away. Like the previous bout, the Arkansan takes a three-quarter mount, and drops down punches before taking full mount once more. "Thug Nasty" takes wrist control and throws some punches to the body, before opting to pursue the arm-triangle choke once more. Sayles spins in desperation, and Mitchell nearly snatches up back control. Sayles almost gets out of the position, but Mitchell scrambles, takes mount again and lays heavy on his opponent. Sayles turns to get out, and this time Mitchell is happy to follow his movement and takes his back. Mitchell does not appear interested in going after a choke, and tries to reverse to mount before taking Sayles' right arm.
The maneuver is brilliant, as Sayles is trapped, and Mitchell sets up a twister submission. "Thug Nasty" pulls on the top half of Sayles's torso while trapping the bottom half with his legs, and Sayles has to tap out!
This is only the second twister we have seen in UFC history, with the first coming by Chan Sung Jung over Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 in 2011. Toto, I have a feeling we're not in (Ar)Kansas anymore. Amazing.

The Official Result
Bryce Mitchell def. Matt Sayles R1 4:20 via Submission (Twister)