COLUMBUS, Ohio – Curtis Blaydes is back to his finishing ways – and he thinks he’s ready for the next step up.
At UFC on ESPN 33, Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) knocked fellow heavyweight contender Chris Daukaus (12-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) unconscious in Round 2 and cemented his spot at the top of the division. The win was big, and Blaydes thinks it likely earned him a shot at one of the heavyweight weight class’ top dogs.
“A win over (Ciryl) Gane, who was on a hot streak, who was just in a title fight, a win over him should put me as the next title contender – the same thing with Stipe (Miocic),” Blaydes told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “He’s the G.O.A.T., in my opinion. He’s the G.O.A.T. of this heavyweight division. He honestly deserved a rematch a while ago. But if he’s willing to risk it against me, and I beat him, that’s the same thing. A title shot for me would be the same thing after beating Gane or Stipe.”
