PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina played host to Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos event. A heavyweight bout between No. 3 ranked Curtis Blaydes and former champion Junior dos Santos headlined the 12-bout fight card.
Blaydes, an accomplished wrestler, was expected to try and take the fight to the ground the first chance that he got. Dos Santos wanted to keep the fight standing. Blaydes did look for takedowns throughout the opening frame, but dos Santos defended each attempt. When he was unable to put dos Santos on his back, Blaydes displayed his striking. His right hand connected a few times in the closing minute of the first round.
As Blaydes tried to close the distance, dos Santos would unload a lead uppercut. He did it several times and it would eventually be what his undoing. As dos Santos loaded up, Blaydes connected with a right hand early in the second frame that staggered the former champion. Blaydes quickly clinched and delivered knees to the body before finishing with a series of right hands.
“I feel great,” said Blaydes following the TKO win. “Going against a guy like Junior, a legitimate legend, one of the OGs of the sport, just to share the octagon with him was an honor. To get the W, in the main event, and the way we done it, I couldn’t ask for nothing better.”
With the win, Blaydes is riding a three-fight winning streak and wants to fight for the title in his next outing.
“I want that title shot,” said Blaydes. “I’ve shown that I’ve got the wrestling. I’ve shown that I’ve got the hands. I don’t know what else I have to do, but I want a title shot.”
This article first appeared at News – MMAWeekly.com
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