Curtis Blaydes pulled off the upset on Saturday evening at UFC 299, snapping Jailton Almeida’s six-fight successful streak by knocking the Brazilian out with hammerfists within the second spherical (watch the highlights right here). If Almeida had gotten previous Blaydes, there was no query he’d be subsequent in line to face interim champion Tom Aspinall. Now Curtis is trying to step into that place.
“I consider me and Aspinall have some unfinished enterprise,” Blaydes declared within the cage following his win. “I’d wish to get that one subsequent. That’s my subsequent struggle: Aspinall.”
Blaydes and Aspinall fought again in July 2022, however the bout lasted simply 15 seconds earlier than Aspinall blew out his knee. Now that Aspinall is the UFC interim champ, “Razor” Blaydes desires to present him an opportunity to avenge that loss.
“Don’t gotta ask me twice. I’m in,” Aspinall wrote on Twitter in response to a fan calling for a summer time struggle.
Heavyweight is in a little bit of an odd spot proper now with undisputed champion Jon Jones recovering from a pectoral harm. When he does return, it is going to be towards Stipe Miocic in a match that was initially scheduled for UFC 295. That leaves Aspinall in a lurch till late 2024 on the earliest … so why not have him struggle Curtis Blaydes within the interim?
Whereas nothing is confirmed, it’s anticipated that the UFC will return to the U.Okay. this summer time for an occasion. If that occurs, Curtis is prepared and keen to journey.
“London was dope,” he mentioned on the UFC 299 post-fight press convention. “I’m down to return.”
What he’s not fascinated about is a title eliminator match with the one different potential opponent for Aspinall, Ciryl Gane.
“I really feel such as you guys are all attempting to edge me in the direction of Gane, that’s not taking place,” Blaydes mentioned. “I requested for him already prior to now, he missed that bus. If it’s not Aspinall, we’ll determine it out. I’m not going to make no concrete selections proper now as a result of I don’t know what’s happening – I haven’t even checked out my cellphone all day.”
Aspinall hasn’t fought since a primary spherical KO win over Sergei Pavlovich to win the title in November 2023. He’s repeatedly mentioned a struggle with Blaydes him, contemplating it’s his sole loss within the UFC. If the promotion desires to maintain their burgeoning British star lively, the selection appears apparent — until they resolve to go along with Ciryl Gane, who may get the nod as a result of his reputation in France.
