With former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut seemingly just around the corner, fellow heavyweight Curtis Blaydes has weighed in on his most likely opponent. It seems that we’ll see a clash of former champions when Jones eventually takes on Stipe Miocic, with Blaydes backing Miocic to take the victory on The Fighter vs The Writer.
“I feel like when you say people, do you mean casuals or do you mean the educated MMA fans? Because I think the educated MMA fans understand this fight is legitimately a pick ‘em. It could go either way.
Blaydes Calls Miocic To Beat Jon Jones
Jon, he hasn’t shown that one-punch knockout power. What he has shown, he is extremely creative. He’ll hit you with elbows, knees, teeps, all types of different stuff. Even on the ground, he’s aggressive. He’s looking for submissions. He’s looking to drop elbows. He brings a lot to the table, but the biggest thing he doesn’t have is the power. I think that’s always the equalizer…
I would pick Stipe to win this. Just because he’s been in five-round heavyweight fights multiple times and he’s shown one-punch power when he knocked out Fabricio [Werdum], when he knocked out Alistair [Overeem]. I know that wasn’t one punch, but it was one punch that set up the finish.
He’s already shown that, and he has the wrestling, he has the conditioning. I just believe he’s a smart enough fighter, he’ll be able to figure out Jon after two or three rounds. He’ll start to land. His punches are going to hurt more than the punches of a Jon Jones. That’s just what I think. I think it could go either way.”
Jon Jones absorbed over 100 strikes in his last fight, against Dominick Reyes, which Curtis Blaydes acknowledged. “I’ve sparred with [Dominick Reyes] before, multiple times. He does hit hard, but it ain’t like getting hit by a heavyweight. It ain’t the same.” Jones’ wrestling may be a deciding factor, too.
“What if Jon Jones comes out and takes down Stipe and he’s on top? We haven’t seen Stipe on bottom. I guess we have against [Daniel Cormier], but the dimensions of ‘DC’ vs. Jon Jones are different. He’s a different guy. I think it’s going to be interesting. I would pick Stipe, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he lost either.”
Do you agree with Curtis Blaydes’ assessment? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUfUY4U-w2M
