- Lucas Neufeld has spent more than three years competing in MMA, yet never once had the chance to step into the sport's most celebrated arena. That changes this Friday.
Neufeld (3-0) is set to square off against Jordan Leavitt (1-0) in a featherweight showdown at Tuff-N-Uff: Fight Night hosted at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
At 25, Neufeld is "stoked" to compete on the Las Vegas stage and has built considerable excitement around the matchup, though he says the real prize is sharing the victory with family and friends.
"When I arrive, it'll just feel like another ring," Neufeld explained. "I'm stepping inside, doing what I do best, finishing the job, collecting my purse, and then heading out to celebrate with my family in Vegas."
"I've got a whole group heading down with me."
Yet between Neufeld and his dream Vegas party stands Leavitt, a dangerous competitor whose four of five wins—amateur and pro combined—have come by submission.
Neufeld knows Leavitt's grappling threat and plans to keep the bout upright, aiming for a decisive knockout exit.
"I truly believe lightning is going to strike, and it's going to hit right on his jaw," he said.
"If I can't drop him in the first round, I'm ready to go the distance across three rounds. It might turn into a rough battle—he's durable and has serious stamina."
Though he hasn't lost focus on Leavitt, Neufeld revealed his next bout is confirmed to return to Lethbridge, Alta., when Z-Promotions stages Fight Night 8 on Jan. 25.
He doesn't yet have an opponent lined up for that event but is open to clashing with Randy Mahon, who mentioned after his victory at XFFC 19 that he'd like to fight Neufeld.
However, now that he's reached 3-0 professionally, Neufeld said he's been hearing complaints from certain individuals—including Mahon—that he's been accepting soft opponents. He noted he'd only validate those critics if he fought Mahon while the latter carried a losing record.
"If he heads into his next fight with a losing record, there's zero chance I'm facing him," Neufeld stated.
"If he wins his upcoming bout and wants to step in with me in January, I'd be happy to make his dream a reality."
Leavitt Stands Firm
Across the cage, Leavitt aims to deny Neufeld his undefeated streak ahead of a possible showdown with Mahon, while protecting his own perfect record.
Despite displaying a dominant jiu-jitsu game throughout his early career, Leavitt expressed confidence in winning regardless of how the fight unfolds.
"If I spot an opening to impose my game plan, I'm dropping him to the mat and executing what I do best," Leavitt told reporters.
"But I'm equally comfortable on the feet, and I'm not concerned about whichever direction this fight takes."
As a Las Vegas local, the 23-year-old training out of Syndicate MMA gets the advantage of fighting in his hometown.
Even with the home crowd likely cheering heavily against him, Leavitt said he has one supporter loud enough to fill the arena.
"The crowd probably won't affect me much because my mom drowns out everyone else," Leavitt joked.
"When she's on the sidelines, it feels like the entire audience is behind me."
A perfect amateur run preceded Leavitt's pro debut with a submission victory in October 2017, and he has no intention of handing out his first defeat this Friday.
While describing Neufeld as "a nice Canadian dude," Leavitt promised to send him home with his first professional loss.
"I'm going to apply pressure—he'll try to push back, but he won't be able to, and I think he's going to panic," Leavitt predicted.
"When that happens, I'm going to take advantage and finish him."
Leavitt's Thank Yous
"I want to give thanks to my friends, my family and my training partners because none of this would be possible without them."
