UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith is backing up Curtis Blaydes’ claim that he ought to get an interim heavyweight title fight. After Blaydes annihilated Chris Daukaus to claim his second win in a row – bringing him to 6-1 in his last seven fights – Smith said on The Fighter vs. The Writer that Blaydes’ name is the one that makes the most sense.
“Curtis Blaydes has got to be one-half of [an interim title fight]. No. 1, out of anybody that we’re talking about, Curtis Blaydes is the only one coming off a win. Stipe’s coming off a loss and Ciryl Gane’s coming off a loss. It’s got to be Curtis versus one of those guys.
Anthony Smith: Curtis Blaydes Deserves Heavyweight Title Shot, not Jon Jones
I wouldn’t doubt it’s Stipe or that they try to make that fight, especially because Ciryl did just lose to Francis and if he wins then for whatever reason Ciryl doesn’t fight again, then Francis comes back and we’ve got to do that again. No one else stands out to me.”
Former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, who has long teased a move up to to heavyweight, might say the heavyweight championship is “his destiny”, but Anthony Smith says Jones is nowhere to be seen. For as long as Jon Jones isn’t in the division – and his legal battles, including domestic violence accusations will likely keep him from competition for a while – he’s not in the title conversation.
“Until Jon signs a contract with someone, I’m just imagining he’s not in the equation. Because you can’t talk about ‘what if’s’ and Jon is a big what if.
I think, best case is, everyone just pulls Jon out of it and let’s just stop talking about him until he decides what he wants to do. Jon Jones is out of the picture.”
Curtis Blaydes has been waiting a long time for a chance at UFC gold. He’s already called out Stipe Miocic, the champ who Francis Ngannou dethroned to earn his heavyweight strap. Miocic hasn’t fought since losing the heavyweight belt, and an interim title fight with the potential to set up a Miocic vs Ngannou rematch seems like the obvious choice to Anthony Smith.
“I think that is the fight to make.” With Ngannou recovering from knee surgery, possibly until 2023, and no official announcement from the UFC regarding the future of the 265-pound division, we may well see a new champion very soon.
What do you think is next for the UFC heavyweight elite? Let us know in the comments.
