Curtis “Razor” Blaydes might have scuppered his chance at Francis Ngannou with a February 2021 loss to Derrick Lewis, but the two-fight win streak he has gathered since then gets him a little closer to the UFC 265-pound strap. Before then, however, Blaydes needs to claim a major scalp.
After knocking Chris Daukaus out in the second round of their fight this weekend, Blaydes told the post-fight press conference that he’ll take either of the active former champions – Cyril Gane or Stipe Miocic – on his way to the top.
Curtis Blaydes Calls out Stipe Miocic, Ciryl Gane
““I view them as the same opportunity. A win over Gane, who was on a hot streak, who was just in a title fight, a win over him should put me as the next title contender. Same thing with Stipe.
He’s the GOAT, in my opinion. He’s the GOAT of this heavyweight division. He honestly deserved a [championship] rematch a while ago but if he’s willing to risk it against me and I beat him, that’s the same thing to me. It’s a title shot for me would be the next thing for me after beating Gane or Stipe.”
Blaydes praised Stipe Miocic as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time, and wants a piece of that MMA history. “I believe he’s the GOAT. So a win over him — that’s the one difference — beating Stipe or Gane equals a title shot but beating Stipe I think weighs more heavily historically.
Cause everyone knows what Stipe has done. They know his resume. So that’s the one difference. Having him on the resume, that would be huge.”
Blaydes actually sparred with Stipe Miocic back in 2014, when he was, as an amateur, part of Miocic’s training camp to fight Gabriel Gonzaga. “He was levels and levels above me [back then]. [Now] I respect him but I believe I’m on his level. I believe I can take him down.
I know I can take him down cause I did take him down but I also believe if we get into a striking battle, I can strike with him. I’ve got the footwork. I’ve got the acumen. I believe in my coaches and I know I can hang with anybody on the feet.”
The heavyweight division right now is arguably more exciting than ever, with title candidates all over the place. Seasoned vets like Derrick Lewis and Stipe Miocic are out there, while newcomers like Tai Tuivasa and Tom Aspinall are climbing the rankings. Meanwhile, reigning champ Francis Ngannou has yet to be dethroned, even by former teammate and kickboxer extraordinaire Ciryl Gane.
Do you want to see Blaydes vs Gane, or is Blaydes vs Miocic more interesting? Let us know in the comments.
