Latest news with #Blaydes
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Curtis Blaydes: UFC Baku fight vs. newcomer Rizvan Kuniev 'doesn't help me at all'
Curtis Blaydes: UFC Baku fight vs. newcomer Rizvan Kuniev 'doesn't help me at all' Curtis Blaydes believes he's stuck in neutral ahead of UFC on ABC 8. In his first appearance since challenging for the interim heavyweight title last year, Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) will welcome newcomer Rizvan Kuniev to the promotion. UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. "My expectations for the fight this weekend are same as always: I expect to win," Blaydes told reporters at media day. While Blaydes aims to get back into the win column after losing an interim title bid against Tom Aspinall at UFC 304, the heavyweight wrestler doesn't see the matchup against Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) as one that will get him closer to title contention. "This fight doesn't help me at all," Blaydes said. "This guy is unranked. So, I could knock him out with a flying knee – it doesn't matter." It's rare that a promotionally ranked top-five fighter would face an unranked fighter, but circumstances made it necessary for Blaydes. While Kuniev may not be a name that will help him move back up the ladder, it will help his bank account. Since his pay is the same whether or not there's a number next to his opponent's name, Blaydes decided it was time to collect a paycheck. "If you look at the availability of guys, there wasn't anyone available," Blaydes said. "Who wants to wait? I haven't had a fight since last July. I'd like to make some money this year." Blaydes recognizes that Kuniev is a threat inside the cage, but he views all heavyweights as such due to one-punch knockout power. If he's able to avoid that big shot and find a finish of his own, "Razor" Blaydes would love to get back into position to fight for the title soon, but he knows he'll have more work to do. "I would love to fight for the title," Blaydes said. "That would be another $800 grand in my pocket, but it's not gonna happen, so I'm not even gonna put that in my mind. Having that expectation would just lead to me being disappointed, and I don't want to be disappointed. So, I'll be realistic: I'll probably need another fight."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Curtis Blaydes calls for Jon Jones to be stripped of UFC title: 'I'm over it already'
Curtis Blaydes calls for Jon Jones to be stripped of UFC title: 'I'm over it already' Curtis Blaydes is fed up with the holdup at the top of the UFC heavyweight division, so much so that he's calling for the promotion to move on without one of its biggest stars. Blaydes, a former UFC interim title challenger, thinks it's time for the UFC to strip Jon Jones of his title and carry on with the division. Blaydes believes this is long overdue and causing harm to the careers of many of the top contenders, including himself. "Without the (title) movement, where are we going to go?" Blaydes said Wednesday at UFC on ABC 8 media day. "Like, eventually No. 5 is going to move up and get a higher opponent, No. 4, No. 3 and so on. If he doesn't fight, like I said a month ago, I would like him to be stripped. We all get it. He's the GOAT, he's great, but if you're not going to be active, what are you doing holding the belt? I get what he's doing. He enjoys this. He enjoys his name being talked about. I'm over it already. It's been ... I don't even know how long it's been since he beat Stipe, but it's been long enough. I think he should be stripped." Jones has sparked plenty of controversy in recent years given his lack of activity as champion. He won the title in March 2023 and has only defended it once, and against Stipe Miocic, who was in his 40's and hadn't fought in three years by the time he stepped in the cage against Jones. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall won the UFC interim heavyweight title in November 2023 and has since defended it once against Blaydes. He's been waiting for a title unification bout with Jones. Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday against promotional newcomer Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. "Razor" Blaydes is hopeful of one day winning the UFC title. Should the top of the division get sorted out, Blaydes sees himself two wins away from title contention. "I view (Jones) as retired unless he proved otherwise. He's out of fights, out of mind," Blaydes said. "I'm not even thinking about Jon. That's what he wants, for people to ask, 'What do you think Jon is going to do?' I don't care. I don't care. The rest of the division, I'm looking to get someone top five after this. I need someone ranked. I need to beat a ranked opponent if I want to get a title shot, which is the goal. "I guess it just depends on who's available. Derrick Lewis, he fights July 15 or something like that, so timewise if he wins or Sergei (Pavlovich). I lost to both of them, so a rematch with either one of them would be dope. Or even (Cyril) Gane, I've been asking for Gane. There's a lot of options. I'd be happy with someone ranked above me."
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev shifted from Seattle to UFC 313 in Las Vegas
Curtis Blaydes will have to wait a few extra weeks for his attempt to rebound from an interim title fight loss to Tom Aspinall. The heavyweight matchup between Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and octagon newcomer Rizvan Kuniev, which was originally scheduled to take place at UFC Fight Night 252 on Feb. 22 in Seattle, has now been shifted to UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas. A person with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie of the change on Wednesday, but the exact reason for the change in date is unknown. The person requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Blaydes, No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings, got the rematch with Aspinall for the interim belt after a 4-1 stretch that included a victory over Aspinall by injury TKO. 'Razor,' now 33, has been a notable part of the division since his debut in April 2016, and will look to start his build back up to contention. He will have to do against Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was signed to the UFC in August following a first-round TKO win at DWCS 68. The 32-year-old has also faced notable such as PFL's Renan Ferreira and UFC veterans Anthony Hamilton and Justin Willis. Kuniev was supposed to make his debut at UFC 310 in December, but opponent Martin Buday withdrew and the matchup was scratched. Now after another delay, he will hope the third time's the charm to make his official debut. The latest UFC 313 lineup now includes: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for light heavyweight title Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker Iasmin Lucindo vs. Amanda Lemos Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos Carlos Leal vs. Alex Morono Francis Marshall vs. Mairon Santos Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van Chris Gutierrez vs. Jean Matsumoto King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 313.
