Curtis Blaydes blames his loss to Sergei Pavlovich on a slow start and predicts a potential matchup between Jon Jones and Pavlovich. Read more about Blaydes’ insights and upcoming fight against Jailton Almeida.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Curtis Blaydes blames his loss to Sergei Pavlovich on a slow start |
| Blaydes believes Pavlovich could catch Jon Jones in a fight |
| Blaydes is focused on his upcoming fight against Jailton Almeida |
Curtis Blaydes recently attributed his loss to Sergei Pavlovich to a slow start in their matchup. Blaydes, also known as "Razor," entered this year on a three-fight winning streak and was closing in on his first UFC title shot. However, Pavlovich stopped him with strikes just over three minutes into the first round. This defeat marked the second time Blaydes has been finished in the opening round, with Francis Ngannou being the first to do so in their 2018 rematch.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Blaydes admitted to starting slow and underestimating Pavlovich. He explained that heavyweights usually sprint out of the gate, but he took a more cautious approach, which ultimately cost him the fight. Despite the loss, Blaydes believes that Pavlovich has the potential to catch Jon Jones if they were to face each other in the Octagon.
Pavlovich has been dominant in the UFC, except for his debut against Alistair Overeem. This has sparked excitement among fans, who see him as a potential contender for the heavyweight title. However, Jones is set to defend his belt against former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. If Jones successfully defends his title, Blaydes thinks that Pavlovich could pose a serious challenge to him. Blaydes acknowledges that Jones is much more skilled than Pavlovich, but in the heavyweight division, skill matters less compared to pure power.
Instead of taking a tune-up fight to bounce back from his loss, Blaydes is scheduled to face Jailton Almeida later this year. Almeida, a former light heavyweight, is currently ranked #12 in the UFC heavyweight division and recently submitted Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Fight Results
Here are the results of the mentioned fights:
| Fight | Result |
|---|---|
| Curtis Blaydes vs. Sergei Pavlovich | Pavlovich wins via strikes in the first round |
| Curtis Blaydes vs. Francis Ngannou (2018 rematch) | Ngannou wins via strikes in 45 seconds |
| Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik | Almeida wins via submission in the first round |
This upcoming bout between Blaydes and Almeida promises to be a significant challenge for both fighters. Blaydes remains determined to bounce back and regain his momentum in the heavyweight division.
Conclusion
Curtis Blaydes attributes his loss to Sergei Pavlovich to a slow start and underestimating his opponent. Despite this setback, Blaydes believes that Pavlovich has the potential to catch Jon Jones if they were to meet in the Octagon. The heavyweight division is known for its power, and Blaydes acknowledges that skill matters less in this weight class. Blaydes is focused on his upcoming fight against Jailton Almeida, which presents a significant challenge for both fighters.
