Curtis Blaydes emphasizes the unique and unpredictable nature of heavyweight fighting due to the immense power involved, arguing that knockouts are almost inevitable and should not be seen as a sign of poor skill.
Curtis Blaydes often talks about the inherent dangers that come along with fighting at heavyweight. Not because he’s trying to create a built-in excuse for any potential losses, though.
Instead, the man who challenges Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 304 does it so fans, fighters, and everyone in between remember that his division is a whole different animal compared to the rest of the sport. Blaydes argues that the power generated by heavyweights almost makes every fight in the division unpredictable because it only takes one errant shot to end somebody’s night.
“I wish people would take that into account when they judge or critique heavyweight,” Blaydes explained when speaking to MMA Fighting. “Like ‘oh he got knocked out! He’s a bum!’ No, it’s heavyweight.
If you watch [Sean] O’Malley against [Chito] Vera on [UFC] 299, if that was heavyweight, it wouldn’t have gone five rounds. I promise you. The way O’Malley was hitting Vera, that’s not going past two rounds. Just because they don’t hit as hard.
“It’s not that we’re not as skilled; it’s that we have to be a little more skilled, I think in order to strike. That’s why I like to wrestle. This is a dangerous game at heavyweight.”
Blaydes knows from personal experience exactly how that works.
His four losses in the UFC have all come by knockout and it could be argued the three men responsible are a trio of the hardest-hitting fighters ever in MMA. That list includes Francis Ngannou, Derrick Lewis, and Sergei Pavlovich—who have a combined 31 UFC knockouts and a 78 percent average for knockouts in their careers.
Of course those losses still sting for Blaydes just like if he fell by decision or submission but he also understands that getting put down at heavyweight at one point or another is almost inevitable.
“People are like ‘Blaydes has a glass jaw.’ I got knocked out by Derrick Lewis; Sergei caught me but I wasn’t asleep and [Francis] Ngannou but again, I wasn’t asleep,” Blaydes said.
“Three heavy hitters and I ate one from Mark Hunt—a real overhand. I ate that. I don’t think I have a glass jaw; it’s just heavyweight and we all hit hard.”
“It’s almost a different sport when you compare it to other weight classes.”
The things you can get away with… You can flick out a lazy inside leg kick and if you get hit with a hook—it’s not the end of the world. Not at heavyweight.
That’s what happened to [Alexander] Volkov—he flicked out a lazy one with Derrick [Lewis] at the end of the fight—gets knocked out.”
Perhaps the only knockout loss that really bugs Blaydes is against Lewis back in ’21.
On that night, Blaydes started strong and had a dominant opening round against Lewis but in the second? He made an ill-fated mistake of shooting for takedown without any kind of setup—and paid dearly for it.
Lewis blasted him with an uppercut; Blaydes fell unconscious to floor…
“People at home are like ‘Blaydes is bum,’ his hands are ass.” Did you watch first round?” Blaydes said.”I was piecing him up.Yeah…he caught me.He knew ‘this guy’s way too fast.’ I’m just gonna stand here & if get him—I get him’—and he got me.I hate that.”
“People probably view him as better striker than me just ’cause he got me w/ uppercut.It wasn’t most skillful thing in world.I almost view as knocked myself out ’cause shot into an uppercut—which only makes worse.”
While Blaydes has dramatically improved striking since arriving UFC—he’s never hidden fact wrestling remains best & most used weapon…
It’s not just ’cause he’s so good taking opponents down ground—but rather that’s Blayde’s traveling down path least resistance rather than taking more chances on feet where it’s constantly like ducking & dodging nuclear bombs…
“I wear it like badge honor,”Blayde said.”A lot ppl wanna talk smack ‘oh wants wrestle!’ You get there.You stand there w/ heavy hitting HW & know only get one zigged where should’ve zagged & it’s over.Let’s see if wrestle or not—at least little bit.”
Blades can’t say certain how fight vs Aspinall gonna play Saturday—but preparing every possible scenario.Maybe means shooting takedown—or perhaps going KO.But whatever strategy—Blades promises approaching w/ analytical mind focused winning—not necessarily winning crowd…
“There’s nothing wrong being smart fighter,”Blade said.”We all want see[Max]Holloway vs[Justin]Gaethje…Those lightweights.That don’t happen HW unless you’re sauce—which I’m not—that’s never gonna happen HW.Never gonna get war like tht.Just never gonna happen…”