UFC: Curtis Blaydes wants Francis Ngannou rematch – ‘if I get him on the ground it’s over’

With lopsided wins over Shamil Abdurakhimov and Justin Willis in the rear-view mirror, Curtis Blaydes is on the road to a UFC heavyweight title shot. Before Blaydes can contend for the title, however, he’ll need to bypass Brazilian spike strip Junior dos Santos, who he’ll meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night Raleigh this weekend.

Dos Santos, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is now 35 years old, but Blaydes believes his foe is still as dangerous as ever, and is not taking the challenge lightly.

“He’s still extremely dangerous,” Blaydes told the Post of Dos Santos. “He’s still got power in his hands. Everyone agrees that power is the last thing to leave – especially for heavyweights – so I’m not going to not respect him. I’m going to treat him like he’s got the belt.”

While dos Santos is best known for his striking and Octagon-shaking power, Blaydes is known first and foremost for his wrestling. The 28-year-old, who has completed more takedowns than any other heavyweight in UFC history, intends to apply that skill set in Raleigh, just like he does in every fight.

“We’re not going to alter the usual game plan,” he said. “That’s the beauty of my game plan: it’s pretty universal, regardless of my opponent’s style.

“We’re going to the mat,” he added confidently. “I give him respect, he does have pretty good takedown defence. He might stop the first one or two, but here’s the thing: guys with good takedown defence are used to going against guys who give up after they’ve had a few shots defended.

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“I’m not going to give up. It only makes me want that takedown more. That’s a part of my game plan. It involves attrition. I have to get on top to wear you out, so I’m not going to stop.”

If Blaydes is able to execute his game plan and defeat Dos Santos, he’ll be on a three-fight streak and will stand out as one of the apex predators of the heavyweight division. By his estimation, only current champion Stipe Miocic, former champion Daniel Cormier and streaking contender Francis Ngannou will outrank him.

Blaydes and Ngannou have fought twice before, with Ngannou emerging victorious on both occasions. Given that Miocic and Cormier are expected to rematch sometime in the coming months, Blaydes believes that he and Ngannou could wind up having to fight again before either contends for the title.

Despite the outcome of their first two fights, he’s confident he could defeat the Cameroonian-Frenchman the third time around.

“I’d be extremely confident [if I fought Ngannou again],” he said. “I know where he’s weak. I get him on the ground, it’s over. I’ve just gotta get him on the ground. Last time, I didn’t really have the opportunity to implement the game plan.

“I know if we get in there again, I’m going to get him on his back.”

While Blaydes would welcome a title fight or a rematch with Ngannou after his fight with Dos Santos, he doesn’t mind taking the scenic route to those opportunities.

“I don’t mind earning easy paycheques if I don’t get a title fight after Junior,” he said. “Junior’s not an easy fight, but I’m not gonna lie, my last two opponents, Willis and Shamil, if they want to give me a bunch of those guys, I’ll just run through contracts. I’ll clean the division out. As long as I’m earning paycheques I’m fine.

“The longer I wait for a title shot, the more my skills grow.”

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The first priority, of course, is taking down dos Santos in Raleigh.

“I predict a finish,” Blaydes said. “I don’t expect to go the distance.”