Curtis Blaydes does not think that UFC wildman Derrick Lewis is truly committed to the sport of mixed martial arts. At UFC Vegas 19, Curtis Blaydes will occupy the main event slot against Derrick Lewis. Blaydes and Lewis are polar opposites in just abo…
Curtis Blaydes does not think that UFC wildman Derrick Lewis is truly committed to the sport of mixed martial arts. At UFC Vegas 19, Curtis Blaydes will occupy the main event slot against Derrick Lewis. Blaydes and Lewis are polar opposites in just about every way two people could be. Blaydes is hard-nosed, all business, […]
Curtis Blaydes is not giving in to outside pressure to change the fighting style that has benefited him throughout his MMA career. This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 19 will feature a battle of behemoths when Curtis Blaydes crashes with Derrick Lewi…
Curtis Blaydes is not giving in to outside pressure to change the fighting style that has benefited him throughout his MMA career. This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 19 will feature a battle of behemoths when Curtis Blaydes crashes with Derrick Lewis in the main event. The last time Blaydes was in a main event was in […]
Ahead of his UFC Vegas 19 headliner this weekend at the UFC Apex facility, #2 ranked heavyweight contender, Curtis Blaydes has questioned opponent, Derrick Lewis’ commitment to training — as well as posing the inquiry if he’s got as much respect for mixed martial arts as him. Blaydes, who makes his second trip to the […]
Ahead of his UFC Vegas 19 headliner this weekend at the UFC Apex facility, #2 ranked heavyweight contender, Curtis Blaydes has questioned opponent, Derrick Lewis’ commitment to training — as well as posing the inquiry if he’s got as much respect for mixed martial arts as him.
Blaydes, who makes his second trip to the Apex facility in Nevada, has won his last four consecutively — most recently knocking back recent UFC Vegas 18 main event feature, Alexander Volkov last June in a wrestling clinic where he scored fourteen successful shots over the five-round affair.
Poised to challenge for Octagon gold in the not too distant future with a victory, although accepting that his chance will come after division newcomer, former two-time light heavyweight best, Jon Jones challenges — Blaydes has recovered with aplomb since his second career loss to UFC 260 title chaser, Francis Ngannou back in November of 2018.
Speaking with ESPN MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani prior to this weekend’s outing, Blaydes, claimed that he doesn’t view Lewis’ persona on the same level as former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington, however, he made it clear that he doesn’t believe the New Orleans native trains or respects the fight game on a similar level to him.
“He’s (Derrick Lewis) — I don’t have any reason to call him a bad guy,” Blaydes said. “I haven’t seen anything that would point to that, but I do think his humour is a little like low-hanging fruit. Like, ‘I’m tryna be the big guy’ and make the weak, easy jokes like, ‘my balls was hot’ and stuff like that. I wouldn’t do that, that’s not my type of personality, but I’m not hating on him — that’s one of his shticks, it’s not hurting nobody.“
“He’s not Colby Covington so I have no problem with him,” Blaydes explained. “I just — I don’t think he puts in the work. And I don’t think he respects the game the way I do, ’cause I’ve seen in a couple of interviews — he works out once or twice a week. I don’t know if that was because he had a back injury or if that’s just like a preference thing, but — I just don’t think he’s putting in the work to be great, that a lot of other guys are putting in to be great.“
Blaydes, who plys his trade at altitude at Elevation Fight Team in Denver, Colorado — shares the mats with former interim lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje and current undisputed welterweight best, Kamaru Usman to name a few — and questioned if Lewis puts in the same amount of work like those guys.
“I’m putting in that work and I see a lot of guys at Elevation (Fight Team) — I see the type of work that’s needed to be great,” Bladyes said. “I watch (Justin) Gaethje, I watch (Kamaru) Usman, I watch Neil Magny like — I don’t think he’s working like that. I’m working like that, I don’t think he’s working like that.“
Prior to his win over former Bellator and M-1 Global heavyweight champion, Volkov, Juco national champion, Blaydes has stopped former champion, Junior dos Santos and common-foe, Shamil Abdurakhimov, after a unanimous judging win over Justin Willis.
Scoring a record-breaking knockout win in his last outing at UFC Vegas 6 in August — Lewis became the most prolific knockout-finisher in the history of the promotion’s heavyweight ranks, sealing his astonishing eleventh stoppage win with strikes via his triumph over Aleksei Oleinik.
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes sees absolutely no need to keep his cards close to the vest ahead of his February 20 headliner against Derrick Lewis. When Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis face off in the main event on February 20, fans will be treated t…
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes sees absolutely no need to keep his cards close to the vest ahead of his February 20 headliner against Derrick Lewis. When Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis face off in the main event on February 20, fans will be treated to the quintessential grappler vs. striker matchup. Curtis Blaydes is known […]
After their initial clash was canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test for Curtis Blaydes, the two heavyweight contenders appear to have been rescheduled. Initially being reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, MMA Junkie have since confirmed with a source close to the fight. Either fighter has the chance to force themselves into title contention, should […]
After their initial clash was canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test for Curtis Blaydes, the two heavyweight contenders appear to have been rescheduled. Initially being reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, MMA Junkie have since confirmed with a source close to the fight.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lews has a new date.
The heavyweight fight will headline the UFC fight night event on Feb. 20, according to sources.
It was originally scheduled for Nov. 28 but got canceled the day before after Blaydes tested positive for COVID.
Either fighter has the chance to force themselves into title contention, should they come away with a dominant victory. Though it is notable that Jon Jones’ decision to enter the heavyweight division may create yet another obstacle for the contenders to get past. Curtis Blaydes is currently riding a 4 fight win streak. He has torn through some of the heavyweight elite, having dispatched both former champion JDS and kickboxing standout Alexander Volkov, in 2020 alone. Were it not for the brutal knockout power of Francis Ngannou, Blaydes would undoubtedly have had a title shot already.
Alternatively Lewis had his chance to go for gold, and was subsequently dominated by Daniel Cormier. A TKO loss to JDS soon followed. However since then, ‘The Black Beast’ has rallied, and is currently on a 3 fight win streak. Whilst his decision wins against Ivanov and Latifi were debatably controversial, Lewis’ most recent outing truly displayed his raw power and dominance. He faced long-time heavyweight contender Aleksei Oleinik at UFC Fight Night 174. Despite Oleinik’s high level submission threat, Lewis out grappled him for much of the first round. In the second, he displayed the brutality that initially saw him rise to the top of the division. A vicious flying knee, into a devastating right hand, was the beginning of the end for Oleinik. Following the victory, Lewis decisively called out Blaydes.
However the matchup will be no walk in the park for the Black Beast. The combination for Curtis Blaydes’ wrestling and knockout power represent one of the biggest threats that Lewis will have faced in the octagon.
Lewis’ former opponent, Oleinik will also feature on this card against Chris Daukus. Matt Brown and Carlos Condit will also finally face off in a long awaited matchup. Other notable names involved include Drakkar Klose, Jai Herbert, Charles Rosa and Darrick Minner. The latest line-up for the event is as follows:
Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis
Chris Daukaus vs. Aleksei Oleinik
Darrick Minner vs. Charles Rosa
Jai Herbert vs. Drakkar Klose
Danny Chavez vs. Jared Gordon
Shana Dobson vs. Casey O’Neill
Jamall Emmers vs. Chas Skelly
Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
Vinicius Moreira vs. Ike Villanueva
Who do you think will come out on top in this heavyweight clash?
Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis now have a new date to lock horns, with the two heavyweights colliding on February 20. Following an initial report from ESPN, multiple sources have confirmed that Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis will now headline…
Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis now have a new date to lock horns, with the two heavyweights colliding on February 20. Following an initial report from ESPN, multiple sources have confirmed that Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis will now headline the February 20 Fight Night card. This bout was originally scheduled to take place in […]
Ahead of his UFC Vegas 19 headliner this weekend at the UFC Apex facility, #2 ranked heavyweight contender, Curtis Blaydes has questioned opponent, Derrick Lewis’ commitment to training — as well as posing the inquiry if he’s got as much respect for mixed martial arts as him. Blaydes, who makes his second trip to the […]
After their initial clash was canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test for Curtis Blaydes, the two heavyweight contenders appear to have been rescheduled. Initially being reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, MMA Junkie have since confirmed with a source close to the fight. Either fighter has the chance to force themselves into title contention, should […]