Curtis Blaydes

Curtis Blaydes, sporting a 19-6-0 record (1 NC) with a 7-1 mark across his last eight fights, is an orthodox-stance heavyweight standing 6'4" with an 80-inch reach. The 33-year-old is a high-volume grappler who averages 5.12 takedowns per 15 minutes with 47% accuracy, though his 35% takedown defense reveals vulnerability to elite wrestlers.

Blaydes lands 4.18 strikes per minute at 52% accuracy while absorbing 2.76 per minute, indicating a methodical approach that prioritizes control over volume striking. His recent form has been impressive: he secured a knockout of Jailton Almeida in round two (March 2024), stopped Chris Daukaus with a devastating 17-second finish (March 2022), and earned a unanimous decision over Jairzinho Rozenstruik (September 2021).

However, Blaydes remains haunted by his November 2018 knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in just 45 seconds, exposing the risk in his wrestling-first strategy against explosive strikers. With no submission average across his career, he relies entirely on positional dominance and ground-and-pound to finish opponents.

Blaydes continues to compete in a heavyweight division increasingly defined by knockout power, making his grappling-heavy approach both an asset and a liability at the sport's highest level.