Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contenders Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes are set to run back their April 2016 encounter, as ESPN first reported on Thursday that the two have agreed to rematch at UFC Fight Night 141 in Beijing on Nov. 24.
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Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou Rematch Booked For UFC in Beijing
Blaydes: UFC Fans Fascinated By Big Muscles, Ugly Tattoos
Brock Lesnar is not a very good mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.
That’s according to top-ranked heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes, who smashed his way up the 265-pound ladder and positioned himself for a division title shot. Then UFC went full WWE and trumped “Razor” with Lesnar vs. Daniel Cormier in 2019.
Not because it makes sense for the division, but rather because it’s a fight that will likely sell over one million pay-per-view (PPV) buys, thanks to MMA fans and their “weird” fascination with big muscles and ugly tattoos.
“Will Smith is very popular. You think Will Smith can go in there at 185 and get a title shot? No. Brock Lesnar, he’s going to go fight for the title, go make beaucoup money, and he’s going to go get knocked out,” Blaydes told MMA Fighting.
“He’s not good. It’s weird how MMA fans are, like, just fascinated by his muscles,” he said. “Like, they just like to see a big guy with his physique in the Octagon. They don’t believe he can win, they just like to see him in Octagon. I don’t get it. Maybe they just like his tattoos, I don’t know.”
Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) has not competed since his no contest against Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in summer 2016, which also saw the former NCAA Division-1 National Champion fail his pre-and post-fight drug tests (more on that here).
Blaydes, meanwhile, had some drug testing issues of his own back in early 2017, though you can probably argue a marked difference between marijuana (Blaydes) and clomiphene (Lesnar) when it comes to banned substances.
It’s unlikely these two will ever meet inside the cage, but it sounds like Blaydes — who recently called for a Stipe Miocic match up later this year — is ready to stake his claim to the 265-pound crown.
Curtis Blaydes Believes There’s ‘No Doubt’ He’s Next in Line for UFC Heavyweight Title
Outside of a loss to Francis Ngannou in his debut, Curtis Blaydes is unbeaten inside the Octagon and getting better with each fight. After adding Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt to his resume in 2018, the Chicago native believes he’s risen to the top of the division.
Recent News on Sherdog.com
Curtis Blaydes Believes There’s ‘No Doubt’ He’s Next in Line for UFC Heavyweight Title
Outside of a loss to Francis Ngannou in his debut, Curtis Blaydes is unbeaten inside the Octagon and getting better with each fight. After adding Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt to his resume in 2018, the Chicago native believes he’s risen to the top of the division.
Recent News on Sherdog.com
Curtis Blaydes Believes There’s ‘No Doubt’ He’s Next in Line for UFC Heavyweight Title
Outside of a loss to Francis Ngannou in his debut, Curtis Blaydes is unbeaten inside the Octagon and getting better with each fight. After adding Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt to his resume in 2018, the Chicago native believes he’s risen to the top of the division.
Recent News on Sherdog.com
Curtis Blaydes Believes There’s ‘No Doubt’ He’s Next in Line for UFC Heavyweight Title
Outside of a loss to Francis Ngannou in his debut, Curtis Blaydes is unbeaten inside the Octagon and getting better with each fight. After adding Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt to his resume in 2018, the Chicago native believes he’s risen to the top of the division.
Recent News on Sherdog.com
Curtis Blaydes Believes There’s ‘No Doubt’ He’s Next in Line for UFC Heavyweight Title
Outside of a loss to Francis Ngannou in his debut, Curtis Blaydes is unbeaten inside the Octagon and getting better with each fight. After adding Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt to his resume in 2018, the Chicago native believes he’s risen to the top of the division.
Recent News on Sherdog.com
UFC 225 Prelims: Curtis Blaydes Demolishes Alistar Overeem
Curtis Blaydes continues to be as sharp as his name — literally as well as figuratively.
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Heavyweights Alistair Overeem, Curtis Blaydes to Clash at UFC 225 in Chicago
Curtis Blaydes wil get the opportunity to take climb another rung on the heavyweight ladder when he faces Alistair Overeem at UFC 225.
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Blaydes To Bellator? Show Him The Money
UFC heavyweight up-and-comer, Curtis Blaydes, is coming off the biggest win of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career after turning away Mark Hunt in the UFC 221 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event last weekend in Perth, Australia (watch the highlights here).
As a result, “Razor” is now one step closer to contending for the heavyweight strap.
That might be a big deal to most aspiring 265-pounders, but Blaydes isn’t trying to become a household name. He just wants to show up and bust some heads — and get paid handsomely in the process.
Call him Big Heathen.
And if he can do it by recycling cans on the Bellator roster, then he’ll gladly have that conversation with Scott Coker and Co. after his UFC deal expires, which as it stands, has just one fight remaining.
Blaydes breaks it down for MMA Junkie:
“They’ve been offering guys fat, fat contracts, and those heavyweights aren’t nearly as good as the ones in the UFC. So the enticement is there – lesser competition for more money. I don’t care if no one ever learns my name, as long as my bank account is full. Because I’m not getting hit in the face just because I like it. I know there are guys who enjoy getting hit in the face. I don’t. It pisses me off. I’m in it for the money. I don’t feel bad about that at all. I get why [Francis Ngannou] got the hype train, and I get why I’m not getting the hype train. I don’t have the eight-pack. I don’t look to stand and bang with my chin high and my hands below my waist. And I’m an American – and there are over 100-plus Americans in the UFC. I’m sure once I show the UFC I deserve it, I’ll get my due money too. I’m only 26. Most guys my age aren’t making half what I’m making, so I’m fine with that. For now.”
Blaydes wants a “decent offer” from UFC prior to his last fight.
Prior to knocking around the “Super Samoan” at UFC Perth, Blaydes (9-1, 1 NC) put together four straight wins, one of which was overturned by the Texas Athletic Commission after he flunked for weed.
Smoke Water under the bridge.
In fact, his only loss to date came against top contender Francis Ngannou at UFC Fight Night 86 back in April 2016, a technical knockout loss that occurred when the cageside doctor rules Blaydes medically unfit to continue.
It will be interesting to see how UFC matches him up (as well as how it plans to pay him) moving forward, but the heavyweight division is in dire need of young, talented contenders, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
For much more on UFC 221 click here.
