Latest news with #Kuniev
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
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC newcomer Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as the 'true' heavyweight champion
UFC newcomer Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as the 'true' heavyweight champion Despite being the interim champion, Rizvan Kuniev sees Tom Aspinall as No. 1 in the division and not Jon Jones. Historically speaking, interim champions don't get a ton of appreciation, and are seen as second-tier to the undisputed. Yet, Tom Aspinall is getting the respect from his fellow peers. Rizvan Kuniev, who's debuting for the promotion this Saturday at UFC on ABC 8, sees Aspinall as the "true champion" of the UFC heavyweight division, and not Jon Jones, who technically holds the undisputed belt. Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) took things a step further and called for Jones to get stripped or to relinquish his belt, given his lack of activity, specifically not unifying the title against Aspinall. "I think it's time for Jon Jones to give up the belt, to relinquish the belt," Kuniev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "I think that the true champion is Tom Aspinall. I'm not sure why Jon Jones is holding up the division and why the UFC is letting him do this, why they're letting him keep the belt. "I think that Tom Aspinall being the true champion and not having fought for about six months already, this is way too long. The whole division is on hold. The whole division specifically, the top five, top 10, should have more fights, and there should be more movement, so we can figure out who is actually the top contender." Kuniev takes on veteran and former interim title challenger Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ABC 8, which takes place at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's a rare debut, as not many newcomers get a top contender right away for their first UFC bout. Yet, Kuniev feels more than ready and is out to prove he's an immediate threat to the title. "I was always saying that I was ready to fight someone in the top 10 top five," Kuniev said. "This is a big opportunity for me to fight somebody so multifaceted, so good, so high ranked. For me, this is a great opportunity to come out and show everything I said before and that I'm ready for the top 10, top five is actually true."
