Curtis Lionell Blaydes (born February 18, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2014, he formerly competed for the RFA. As of February 22, 2021, he is #3 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.
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 action throughout the first round, Blaydes won the fight via TKO after Milstead sustained a knee injury. Subsequently, the result was changed to a No Contest after Blaydes tested positive for marijuana.
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 TKO 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. In the fight Blaydes continually took Willis down and controlled him and also scored a knockdown in the second round. He won the fight via dominant 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.
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.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Cody East and Alistair Overeem
- Most takedowns in a fight in UFC Heavyweight division history (14)
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 | hide | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 punches) | 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) | Aleksei Oleinik | 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. 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 marijuana. |
| 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 |
Amateur mixed martial arts record
| Amateur record breakdown | show | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |