Tag: Curtis Blaydes

UFC heavyweight fighter panel including Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic predicts UFC 285’s Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane

Before the UFC 285 ceremonial weigh-ins, an illustrious panel of heavyweights gave their predictions on Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane.

LAS VEGAS – The main event of UFC 285 between [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] has some torn in their predictions, but a panel featuring Hall of Famers, former champions, and a current contender seem to be on the same page.

Former light heavyweight king Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) will be making his heavyweight debut against former interim champ Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at the T-Mobile Arena, with the winner claiming the vacant heavyweight title.

Before the UFC 285 ceremonial weigh-ins, a heavyweight panel participated in a fan Q&A. On stage alongside UFC commentator Jon Anik were Hall of Famers [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] and [autotag]Mark Coleman[/autotag], along with former champs [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] and [autotag]Frank Mir[/autotag]. [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag], the No. 6 heavyweight contender in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings was also on stage.

Each member of the panel gave their take on how the heavyweight title fight between Jones and Gane will play out. Check out their predictions below.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 20-26)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Feb. 20-26.

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes to headline UFC Fight Night on April 22

A key heavyweight bout between Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich is set to headline a UFC Fight Night in April.

Big things are happening in the UFC heavyweight division.

A key matchup between top contenders [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] and [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] has been booked to serve as the main event of a UFC Fight Night on April 22. The location and venue for the card have yet to be announced.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following a report from UFC broadcast partner ESPN on Wednesday.

Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) was last seen in July when he picked up a TKO win after Tom Aspinall suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into the fight. The win improved his streak to three in a row. He had previously defeated Chris Daukaus and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Blaydes is 7-1 in his past eight performances, with his lone loss a knockout defeat to Derrick Lewis in February 2021.

Pavlovich (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has been running through the division in recent years. The Russian fighter has five consecutive first-round stoppage wins. After losing his UFC debut to Alistair Overeem in late 2018, Pavlovich has remained unbeaten in five trips to the octagon since. Most recently, the 30-year-old put away Tai Tuivasa in just 54 seconds at UFC on ESPN 42 in December.

Below is the updated lineup for UFC Fight Night on April 22:

  • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Curtis Blaydes
  • Norma Dumont vs. Karol Rosa
  • Ricky Simon vs. Song Yadong
  • William Gomis vs. Francis Marshall
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Melissa Martinez
  • Jared Gordon vs. Bobby Green
  • Priscila Cachoeira vs. Karine Silva
  • Danaa Batgerel vs. Brady Hiestand
  • Bruno Silva vs. Brad Tavares
  • Christos Giagos vs. Ricky Glenn

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Curtis Blaydes: ‘Size, power, explosiveness’ all to my advantage vs. Jon Jones

UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes sees numerous advantages in his favor in a matchup against Jon Jones.

[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] sees numerous advantages in his favor if he’s matched up against [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag].

Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) didn’t end up securing a fight with Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) in his heavyweight debut, but Blaydes thinks he’d pose a big threat to the former light heavyweight champion in the wrestling department. The UFC heavyweight division’s all-time leader in takedowns, Blaydes thinks Jones would have a hard time getting off his back.

“Just the difference between 215 or 197 compared to heavyweight, when you’re on the bottom, when he’s underneath me, which I do plan on him being underneath me, he’s gonna use a lot more energy than what he’s used to using,” Blaydes said on a recent episode of “Food Truck Diaries” with Brendan Schaub. “I think that’ll be the biggest factor.”

He continued, “Size, power, explosiveness. He’s not the most explosive guy. He’s very creative with the striking, but he’s not very explosive. I think he’s more well rounded, but the wrestling, the size, the explosion, and power, I think jab for jab, if we both connect, he’ll go backwards, and I won’t.”

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Blaydes has won seven of his past eight bouts, most recently over Tom Aspinall in the UFC Fight Night 208 headliner in July, which ended in a TKO due to injury. He does not currently have a fight booked.

Jones will make his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane for the vacant title in the UFC 285 headliner on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

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Curtis Blaydes determined to break GSP’s record for most takedowns in UFC history

Curtis Blaydes is out to break Georges St-Pierre takedown record in UFC.

[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] wants more than UFC gold.

The UFC heavyweight contender has his sights set on the championship belt, but also on the UFC stats history book. Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) wants to break the record for most takedowns in UFC history – a milestone that’s currently held by MMA great Georges St-Pierre. The Canadian superstar scored a total of 90 takedowns during his tenure in the promotion.

“I want to break the record,” Blaydes said on a recent episode of Food Truck Diaries. “I want to break GSP’s. I think he’s got 90. I want to break his record. … I’m at (62). Yeah, (I can break it). I just need to be fighting.”

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Blaydes hasn’t been too happy with his activity level and said he’s been having a tough time booking a fight. But even at this rate of activity, Blaydes is confident that he can break the record before he retires.

“I want the record, and in order to get the record, I need to average like five takedowns a fight and at this rate,” Blaydes said. “I’m only fighting twice a year. I’m going to have to average five takedowns a fight, and I plan on doing it.”

Blaydes is currently on a three-fight winning streak and is 7-1 in his past eight bouts. He was last seen in action in July when he defeated Tom Aspinall by TKO after Aspinall injured his knee seconds into the fight.

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Curtis Blaydes understands Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane booking but admits ‘it wasn’t based off meritocracy’

UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes understands why Jon Jones vs. Curtis Blaydes was booked, regardless of whether he agrees with it.

The UFC heavyweight title picture finally has clarity, but some questions remain about the top of the division – one of them being, what’s next for [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag]?

With Francis Ngannou released from the promotion and [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] on tap for UFC 285, Blaydes reacted to the news for the first time Sunday on social media. Blaydes indicated that he understands the thought process behind the UFC’s decision and predicted a bout vs. surging contender Sergei Pavlovich will be next for him.

“Obviously I’ve seen the news, Gane is getting another title shot vs. Jones,” Blaydes wrote on Facebook. “Most likely I’ll be getting the Pavolich who just beat Tuivasa. That’s cool with me, I get why Gane got the shot and it wasn’t based off meritocracy and that’s not a news flash, the UFC is always gonna to match make based off who puts the most asses in the stands and eyes on the fight. I hope I’ll only need one more win to prove I can put asses in the stands and get a title shot.”

Blaydes, 31, has won three fights in a row and seven of his past eight. He has not competed since a July victory over Tom Aspinall, which ended in a TKO due to injury.

Sources close to the situation told MMA Junkie in November that Blaydes was on the short list to fight Jones at UFC 285. However, the promotion ultimately decided on Gane after he was cleared to return from injury.

With the Jones fight off the table, Blaydes indicated his return fight, if not Pavlovich, will have to be an opponent ranked above him.

“Long as my next opponent is ranked higher than me (which somehow Pavlovich is now) I’m down to fight,” Blaydes wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CncwxCup0Uu/?hl=en

Blaydes sits at No. 4 in the promotion’s official rankings. Gane, Pavlovich, and former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic are the three fighters above him. Miocic, who has largely remained away from the fight game since March 2021, indicated Sunday he has his sights set on the Jones vs. Gane winner.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

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Curtis Blaydes: UFC title shot the goal, but Jon Jones would be ‘ultimate consolation’

With his name in consideration to welcome Jon Jones to the UFC heavyweight division, Curtis Blaydes says he will be prepared.

Amid rumblings that he’s in consideration to welcome [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] to the UFC’s heavyweight division, [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] will ensure he’s ready.

Blaydes sees former interim champion Ciryl Gane as a fight that makes sense for him next, but after hearing his name is in the mix to fight Jones, he’ll be ready to face him – or serve as a backup if Jones ends up challenging heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March.

“That’s about as far as I know, as well,” Blaydes said in an interview with Fanatics View. “But seeing as how it’s been reported by all these official MMA websites and authors, I think it’s legit, and I’m going to begin preparing when I get home after the holidays. I’ll be in champ mode or the mindset, so I’ll be ready. We’ll see what happens though.”

He continued, “I don’t mind being a backup, because you never know with Jon. You never know. I’ll be there hopefully. I’ll be on weight obviously. I’ll be ready.”

Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) knows the incentive of adding a name like former light heavyweight champ Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) to his resume. But his main goal remains winning the undisputed title.

“Title shot, that’s the ultimate. Jon is just the ultimate consolation, but what you workout for everyday is the real belt, not the interim belt,” Blaydes said. “The real belt.”

Blaydes is coming off a quick TKO win over an injured Tom Aspinall in the UFC Fight Night 208 headliner in July. Prior to that, the division’s all-time leader in takedowns defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik, followed by a Performance of the Night TKO of Chris Daukaus in Round 1.

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Henry Cejudo says Jon Jones better wrestler than Curtis Blaydes, fight would be ‘easy money’

Henry Cejudo doesn’t see Jon Jones having any difficulty with Curtis Blaydes if they fought.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] believes [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] would beat [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] everywhere.

With rumblings that Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) could be an option for Jones’ heavyweight debut, Cejudo doesn’t see the former UFC light heavyweight champion having any issues with the matchup. Although Blaydes is currently the record holder for most takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight history, Cejudo gives Jones the advantage in wrestling.

“With all due to respect to Curtis Blaydes, that’s a great fight, that’s easy money for Jon Jones,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “Jon Jones is a better wrestler, Jon Jones is a better striker, Jon Jones might even be heavier than this guy. Jon Jones, when he was out here in Arizona, he was pushing close to about 250 (pounds), and I’m talking about 250 nice and yoked, and you can still see that there’s weight to be put on.”

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Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) hasn’t competed since edging out Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. If he does return at UFC 285 in March, it will have been three years since Jones last fought. But Cejudo thinks it’ll only be beneficial for him.

“I think it’s easy money for Jon,” Cejudo added. “I think that the time off that he’s had has only helped him to rejuvenate, to spark that fire once again. To come back and kind of have that chip on your shoulder, especially when people don’t think that you have the ability of going up to heavyweight and actually winning.”

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Ciryl Gane, Curtis Blaydes perk up after hearing about UFC plans for Jon Jones

If Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones can’t get made for March, Ciryl Gane and Curtis Blaydes would gladly fight the former UFC light heavyweight champ.

The timeline for the anticipated return of [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] to the UFC and his arrival as a heavyweight has grabbed the attention of contenders [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that the promotion has Jones penciled in to fight March 5 at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. Against whom remains up in the air, but the UFC’s preferred option is a title fight against champion Francis Ngannou.

Ngannou’s return on that date depends on two things: his recovery from knee surgery earlier this year and his contract status with the UFC. With or without Ngannou, the UFC is set on booking Jones at UFC 285, with Gane and Blaydes as viable options.

Neither man has a problem with welcoming Jones to the division.

“March sounds great for the start of #StrapSeason,” Gane tweeted Tuesday. “Ngannou, Jones, Blaydes, I don’t care: It’s anytime, anyone, anywhere.”

“Not sure how legit this is but if this fight happens, I’ll be ready for 5 rounds,” Blaydes wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClRJamdtI5s/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), 35, hasn’t competed since February 8, 2020, when he narrowly defeated Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 to retain the light heavyweight belt. Shortly after, Jones vacated the 205-pound title and announced his intention to move up to heavyweight. He’s spent more than two years training and bulking up his body to compete with the division’s best.

Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC), 32, was interim heavyweight champion after finishing Derrick Lewis by TKO in August 2021. He lost a title unifier to Ngannou by unanimous decision this past January but rebounded with a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa in September.

Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 YFC), 31, is on a three-fight winning streak with victories against Jarizinho Rozenstruik, Chris Daukaus and most recently Tom Aspinall by injury TKO in July. He’s won seven of his past eight bouts, with his only defeat a February 2021 knockout against Lewis.

Ciryl Gane, Curtis Blaydes perk up after hearing about UFC plans for Jon Jones

If Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones can’t get made for March, Ciryl Gane and Curtis Blaydes would gladly fight the former UFC light heavyweight champ.

The timeline for the anticipated return of [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] to the UFC and his arrival as a heavyweight has grabbed the attention of contenders [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag].

On Monday, MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that the promotion has Jones penciled in to fight March 5 at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. Against whom remains up in the air, but the UFC’s preferred option is a title fight against champion Francis Ngannou.

Ngannou’s return on that date depends on two things: his recovery from knee surgery earlier this year and his contract status with the UFC. With or without Ngannou, the UFC is set on booking Jones at UFC 285, with Gane and Blaydes as viable options.

Neither man has a problem with welcoming Jones to the division.

“March sounds great for the start of #StrapSeason,” Gane tweeted Tuesday. “Ngannou, Jones, Blaydes, I don’t care: It’s anytime, anyone, anywhere.”

“Not sure how legit this is but if this fight happens, I’ll be ready for 5 rounds,” Blaydes wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClRJamdtI5s/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), 35, hasn’t competed since February 8, 2020, when he narrowly defeated Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 to retain the light heavyweight belt. Shortly after, Jones vacated the 205-pound title and announced his intention to move up to heavyweight. He’s spent more than two years training and bulking up his body to compete with the division’s best.

Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC), 32, was interim heavyweight champion after finishing Derrick Lewis by TKO in August 2021. He lost a title unifier to Ngannou by unanimous decision this past January but rebounded with a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa in September.

Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 YFC), 31, is on a three-fight winning streak with victories against Jarizinho Rozenstruik, Chris Daukaus and most recently Tom Aspinall by injury TKO in July. He’s won seven of his past eight bouts, with his only defeat a February 2021 knockout against Lewis.