Curtis Blaydes knows exactly the sort of fight he’s in for come Saturday, as the heavyweight headlines UFC Vegas 71 opposite Sergei Pavlovich.
After all, Russia’s Pavlovich has pretty much bull-rushed his last two opponents, stopping both Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa in less than two minutes. Combined.
A 55-second finish of Lewis and 54-second finish of Tuivasa had Blaydes (17-3, 1NC) admitting that “it’s hard to replicate the intensity that I’m sure he’s going to be bringing,” during this week’s UFC Vegas 71 media day. But at the same time, the preparation, Blaydes added, is “also a little bit easier, because I’m not worried about him using a bunch of different offensive attacks. That does make it a little easier.”
Pavlovich hasn’t lost since dropping his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem, a fighter Blaydes is very familiar with. Overeem used his rarely seen wrestling in that fight, and on paper, Blaydes is levels above “The Demolition Man” in that department. Yet while the math checks out, “Razor” Blaydes isn’t reading too much into it.
“I don’t believe in MMA math. That would just screw it up,” said Blaydes, before adding that yes, he did watch tape of Overeem vs. Pavlovich. “I do. I look at that film. I was actually there that night, I fought Francis [Ngannou] that night, so I watched it.”
“That does give me confidence that if Alistair can take him down, hold him down, than I can also.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 71 media day appearance by Curtis Blaydes above.
