UFC Houston’s featherweight prelim features veteran Jordan Leavitt making his 145-pound debut against undefeated Cuban prospect Yadier del Valle in a compelling grappler’s showcase. This 3-round bout pits Leavitt’s unorthodox submission game and UFC experience against del Valle’s explosive finishing instincts and unblemished 10-0 record.
Del Valle opens as a -425 favorite, with Leavitt at +320 as the underdog. Here’s how we’re betting UFC Houston: Leavitt vs. del Valle, including our UFC predictions, best bet, key props and an expert final verdict.
Mini Fight Info Strip
Event: UFC Houston
Weight class: UFC Featherweight bout
Fight length: 3-round prelim bout
Date & time: February 21, 2026 – Prelims 05:00 p.m. ET, walk time ~05:35 p.m. ET
21+. AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/ VA/WV/WY only. Offer not available in DC/MS/NV/NY/PR. New customers only. Qualifying deposit (min $10) and first real money wager required. If qualifying bet settles as a loss, user is refunded 100% in non-withdrawable bonus bets up to $1,500. Full T&Cs can be found on betmgm.com.
Odds updated: February 20, 2026 – 10:30 AM ET. Lines may move before fight night, especially after weigh-ins or late injury news.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats to Know
Before we get into the matchup, here’s a Tale of the Tape for Leavitt vs. del Valle.
Tale Of The Tape
Jordan Leavitt
Yadier del Valle
Record
12-3
10-0
Age
30
29
Height
5’9″
5’9″
Reach
71″
69″
Stance
Southpaw
Southpaw
Sig. Strikes Landed
2.49
6.25
Striking Accuracy
61%
67%
Strikes Absorbed
1.79
2.87
Striking Defense
57%
52%
Takedowns
2.92
2.08
Takedown Accuracy
30%
42%
Takedown Defense
30%
75%
Submission Avg.
1.3
3.5
Identical height and stance make this a pure stylistic battle. Del Valle’s 3.5 submission average vs. Leavitt’s 1.3, and 75% vs. 30% takedown defense, are the defining numbers.
Fighter Breakdown – Jordan Leavitt Analysis
Leavitt enters 12-3, returning to featherweight after his entire UFC run at lightweight. He most recently earned a performance bonus submitting Kurt Holobaugh with an anaconda choke in 99 seconds.
Strengths: Unorthodox submission game featuring inverted triangles and anaconda chokes that confuse opponents. UFC experience (5-3) against elite grapplers including Claudio Puelles, Chase Hooper, and Paddy Pimblett. Slight reach advantage at 71″. Moving down should improve and cardio.
Weaknesses: 30% takedown defense is a glaring liability. Pulling guard exposes him to top pressure and ground-and-pound. Has alternated wins and losses over his last five bouts.
Betting Angles: Leavitt by Decision (+550) is his most realistic path if he survives del Valle’s aggression. Leavitt by Submission (+1000) is a lottery ticket as del Valle’s 75% takedown defense makes it hard to hold the positions Leavitt needs.
Del Valle carries a perfect 10-0 record. He went 2-0 in his UFC debut year with first-round rear-naked choke finishes over Connor Matthews and Isaac Dulgarian.
Strengths: Elite 3.5 submission average with 42% takedown accuracy and 75% takedown defense. Three straight finishes including two UFC stoppages. Heavy top pressure and ground-and-pound create multiple submission entries. Fighting in his adopted hometown adds crowd energy.
Weaknesses: Leavitt’s chaotic scramble style is unlike anything del Valle has faced. A 52% striking defense could be tested early. Competition level remains modest by UFC standards.
Betting Angles: Del Valle by Submission (+280) is our primary value play given his elite grappling metrics. Del Valle by KO/TKO (+170) offers solid value if top pressure produces a stoppage before a clean submission finish.
Del Valle’s 3.5 submission average and 75% takedown defense mean once he’s on top, he stays there. Both UFC finishes came by first-round rear-naked choke. At +280 (implied 26.3%), we project this closer to 40%.
Del Valle has finished all three UFC fights and Leavitt owns four UFC finishes himself. Three full rounds feels unlikely given both men’s finishing tendencies. At -230 (implied 69.7%), this feels like solid value alongside the best bet.
Up to $300 Bonus Bets per day for 10 days (max $3,000 Bonus Bets total).
21+ and present in AZ/CO/CT/IA/IL/IN/KS/LA (permitted parishes only) /MA/MD/MI/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY. Minimum $10 first deposit required. Promotion Bonus will be credited to your account within 72 hours settlement of Qualifying Wager. First online real money wager only (minimum $5). Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expires in 14 days. Bonus bets and NFL Sunday Ticket code will be issued within 72 hours of bet placement. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
Small stake only. If del Valle dives into a scramble overconfidently, Leavitt can wrap up a choke from seemingly impossible positions. At +1000 (implied 9.1%), keep stakes at 0.5 units maximum.
Prediction – Final Verdict
Official Pick: Yadier del Valle by Submission
Del Valle should establish top control early, using ground-and-pound to open submission lanes. Leavitt will pull guard and hunt scrambles, but del Valle’s positional pressure should neutralize the chaos.
We are predicting del Valle winning via rear-naked choke or arm triangle. This will be a statement performance for him and announce him to the featherweight division.
How to Bet UFC Houston: Tips for This Card
Card Tips:
Del Valle’s 3.5 submission average makes del Valle by Submission (+280) one of the strongest props on the entire UFC Houston card.
Geoff Neal vs. Uroš Medić co-main features two finishers with serious knockout power. consider fight doesn’t go the distance for value.
Sean Strickland at +220 vs. Hernandez offers main event value given his veteran experience and elite five-round cardio.
UFC Houston Fight Card
Main Card (08:00 p.m. ET – Paramount+)
Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez – Middleweight bout, 5 rounds
Geoff Neal vs. Uros Medic – Welterweight bout, 3 rounds
Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa – Featherweight bout, 3 rounds
Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija – Heavyweight bout, 3 rounds
Jacobe Smith vs. Josiah Harrell – Welterweight bout, 3 rounds
Zachary Reese vs. Michel Pereira – Middleweight bout, 3 rounds
Prelims (05:00 p.m. ET – Paramount+)
Chidi Njokuani vs. Carlos Leal – Welterweight bout, 3 rounds
Ode’ Osbourne vs. Alibi Idiris – Flyweight bout, 3 rounds
Alden Coria vs. Luis Gurule – Flyweight bout, 3 rounds
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
mma 
