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Curtis Blaydes
Curtis Blaydes at UFC 221.png
Born (1991-02-18) February 18, 1991 (age 33)
Naperville, Illinois, U.S.
Other names Razor
Residence Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 263 lb (119 kg)
Division Heavyweight
Reach 80 in (203 cm)
Fighting out of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Team Dutch Style MMA (until 2016)
UFC Gym Lombard (formerly)
Elevation Fight Team (2016–present)
Rank Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Cody Donovan
Wrestling NJCAA Wrestling
Years active 2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 23
Wins 18
By knockout 13
By decision 5
Losses 4
By knockout 4
No contests 1
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Harper Hawks
NJCAA National Championships
Gold 2012 Rochester 285 lb

Curtis Blaydes (born February 18, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2014, Blaydes formerly competed for the Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA). As of April 30, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.

Background

Blaydes was born in Naperville, Illinois and raised in nearby Chicago along with his four other siblings. He began wrestling for the De La Salle Institute, winning a state title his senior year while also compiling an undefeated 44–0 record. During his four years, Blaydes compiled an overall record of 95–18 with 121 takedowns. Blaydes also played football for De La Salle as a defensive end. He later earned a full wrestling scholarship to Northern Illinois University. After going 19–2 as a redshirt freshman at NIU, he transferred to Harper College. At Harper, Blaydes won the NJCAA National Championship as a redshirt sophomore. After he began fighting in amateur mixed martial arts, Blaydes left school to focus on a career in MMA.

Blaydes was an IKF amateur champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Blaydes compiled an 8–0 amateur record before turning professional in 2014. He then went 5–0, with all wins via TKO, before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Blaydes made his promotional debut against Francis Ngannou on April 10, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 86. He lost the fight via TKO at the conclusion of the second round due to doctor stoppage.

Blaydes next faced Cody East on October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96. He won the fight via TKO in the second round, winning his first UFC Performance of the Night bonus.

Blaydes faced Adam Milstead on February 4, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 104. After dominating the action throughout the first round, Blaydes won the fight via TKO after Milstead sustained a knee injury. .....

Blaydes faced Daniel Omielańczuk on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Blaydes faced Alexey Oleynik on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217. He won the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage. The referee stopped the fight after Blaydes delivered an illegal kick to a downed opponent and called a doctor to check on Oliynyk. The fight was stopped due to the doctor's advice. The replay, however, showed the strike did not deliver significant damage (as it only grazed the ear), and the fight was ruled a win for Blaydes.

Blaydes faced Mark Hunt on February 11, 2018, at UFC 221. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Blaydes faced Alistair Overeem on June 9, 2018, at UFC 225. He won the fight via TKO due to elbows in the third round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.

Blaydes faced Francis Ngannou in a rematch on November 24, 2018, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 141 He lost the fight via TKO early into the first round.

Blaydes faced Justin Willis on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 148. Blaydes continually took Willis down, scoring multiple takedowns and knocking down Willis in the second round winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Blaydes faced Shamil Abdurakhimov on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Blaydes faced Junior dos Santos on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.

Blaydes faced Alexander Volkov on June 20, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov. He won the fight via unanimous decision (49–46, 48–47, and 48–46).

Blaydes was scheduled to face Derrick Lewis on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis. However, he tested positive for coronavirus and thus, the bout was scrapped. The pair was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 185 on February 20, 2021. Blaydes lost the fight via knockout in the second round. He became a free agent after fighting out his contract, and signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC in May.

Blaydes faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266. Blaydes won the fight via unanimous decision.

Blaydes faced Chris Daukaus on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33. He won the fight via TKO early in the second round. The win also earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Blaydes faced Tom Aspinall on July 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208. Blaydes won the fight via TKO after Aspinall suffered a knee injury and was unable to defend himself in the opening minute of the fight.

Blaydes faced Sergei Pavlovich on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 222. He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

Blaydes was scheduled to face Jailton Almeida on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. However, Blaydes withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Derrick Lewis. The pair was rescheduled for UFC 299 on March 9, 2024. After being taken down nine times in round one, Blaydes won the fight by technical knockout in round two. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

In a rematch, Blaydes is scheduled to face Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for the title on July 27, 2024 at UFC 304.

Personal life

Blaydes has a daughter, Harlie.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
    • Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Cody East, Alistair Overeem, Chris Daukaus and Jailton Almeida
    • Most takedowns landed in UFC Heavyweight division history (62)
    • Most control time in UFC Heavyweight division history (1:20:06)
    • Most top position time in UFC Heavyweight division history (1:06:00)
    • Most takedowns in a fight in UFC Heavyweight division history (14) (vs. Alexander Volkov)

Folkstyle wrestling

  • National Junior College Athletic Association
    • NJCAA HWT National Championship out of Harper College (2012)
    • NJCAA All-American out of Harper College (2012)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches 18 wins 4 losses
By knockout 13 4
By decision 5 0
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 18–4 (1) Jailton Almeida KO (punches) UFC 299 March 9, 2024 2 0:36 Miami, Florida, United States Performance of the Night.
Loss 17–4 (1) Sergei Pavlovich TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes April 22, 2023 1 3:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–3 (1) Tom Aspinall TKO (knee injury) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall July 23, 2022 1 0:15 London, England
Win 16–3 (1) Chris Daukaus TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus March 26, 2022 2 0:17 Columbus, Ohio, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 15–3 (1) Jairzinho Rozenstruik Decision (unanimous) UFC 266 September 25, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 14–3 (1) Derrick Lewis KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis February 20, 2021 2 1:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 14–2 (1) Alexander Volkov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov June 20, 2020 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–2 (1) Junior dos Santos TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos January 25, 2020 2 1:06 Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Win 12–2 (1) Shamil Abdurakhimov TKO (elbow and punch) UFC 242 September 7, 2019 2 2:22 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 11–2 (1) Justin Willis Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis March 23, 2019 3 5:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Loss 10–2 (1) Francis Ngannou TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 November 24, 2018 1 0:45 Beijing, China
Win 10–1 (1) Alistair Overeem TKO (elbows) UFC 225 June 9, 2018 3 2:56 Chicago, Illinois, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 9–1 (1) Mark Hunt Decision (unanimous) UFC 221 February 11, 2018 3 5:00 Perth, Australia
Win 8–1 (1) Alexey Oleynik TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 217 November 4, 2017 2 1:56 New York City, New York, United States
Win 7–1 (1) Daniel Omielańczuk Decision (unanimous) UFC 213 July 8, 2017 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
NC 6–1 (1) Adam Milstead NC (overturned) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie February 4, 2017 2 0:59 Houston, Texas, United States Originally a TKO (knee injury) win for Blaydes; overturned after he tested positive for ....
Win 6–1 Cody East TKO (elbows) UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson October 1, 2016 2 2:02 Portland, Oregon, United States Performance of the Night.
Loss 5–1 Francis Ngannou TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos April 10, 2016 2 5:00 Zagreb, Croatia
Win 5–0 Luis Cortez TKO (punches) RFA 35: Moises vs. Castillo February 19, 2016 3 0:41 Orem, Utah, United States
Win 4–0 Allen Crowder TKO (punches) RDMMA: Battle in the South 10 April 10, 2015 2 N/A Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Win 3–0 Brad Faylor TKO (punches) SCS 23: Redemption November 15, 2014 2 0:45 Hinton, Oklahoma, United States
Win 2–0 William Baptiste TKO (punches) XFO 53 October 11, 2014 1 2:14 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 1–0 Lorenzo Hood TKO (doctor stoppage) XFO 51 May 31, 2014 1 1:42 Chicago, Illinois, United States Heavyweight debut.

Amateur mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 5–0 Tyler Reece Submission (arm-triangle choke) XFO Fight NIght February 21, 2014 1 0:24 Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States
Win 4–0 Anthony Harvey Decision (unanimous) Brawl at the Hall 10 November 15, 2013 3 5:00 Joliet, Illinois, United States Defended the BOH Amateur Heavyweight Title.
Win 3–0 Pete Juska TKO (punches) AFPC 13 - Summer Brawl July 13, 2013 1 2:16 Villa Park, Illinois, United States
Win 2–0 Angel Cabral TKO (punches) Brawl at the Hall June 7, 2013 1 2:16 Joliet, Illinois, United States Won the BOH Amateur Heavyweight Title.
Win 1–0 Robbie Strong TKO (punches) No Mercy 2012 September 29, 2012 1 0:13 Melrose Park, Illinois, United States

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Curtis Blaydes para niños

  • List of male mixed martial artists
  • List of current UFC fighters
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