UPDATE: Blaydes vs. Lewis has been cancelled due to Blaydes testing positive for COVID-19, is is presumed Anthony Smith vs Devin Clark will be elevated from the Co-Main and become the new headliner for the event.
UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes believes he has more tools to win at UFC Vegas 15. Known for his fierce wrestling and deadly ground and pound, ‘Razor’ wants to punish brawler Derrick Lewis with his elbows in the Octagon.
In an interview with Combate, Blaydes explained how he feels superior to Lewis as a mixed martial artist. While he acknowledges Derrick for his dangerous hands, Curtis still believes his opponent is a limited striker and compared him to a lesser version of the division’s top contender, Francis Ngannou.
“I hope to win. I hope I can secure my takedowns. I hope I can land some hard elbows. I expected it to be hard, but I expect to win.”
“He likes to come at you with everything,” Blaydes continued. “He likes to throw heavy shots. He has nothing but a right hand and a flying knee. I have footwork, wrestling, striking. I have many paths to victory, he only has a specific one. I know he’s predictable. He only has one punch, almost like Ngannou, but without his reach.”
Often criticized for his wrestling-oriented style, which might not always make fights into the most exciting shows, Blaydes is aware of the criticism, but does not worry about it. In his opinion, it’s better to score a safe win than risking everything for a thrilling barnburner.
“If you do that, if you chase that finish, you set yourself up to make mistakes. That’s how you lose. Even if it’s a very boring fight, I don’t lose my position, as long as I win.”
Curtis Blaydes (14-2-1 NC) is on a four-fight winning streak, with victories over Justin Willis, Shamil Abdurakhimov, Junior dos Santos and Alexander Volkov. The 29-year-old’s most recent loss happened in November 2018, when he got knocked out by Francis Ngannou.
Now, Curtis Blaydes is expected to take on Derrick Lewis at UFC Vegas 15’s main event, on November 28. The card is scheduled to happen at the UFC Apex, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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