Curtis Blaydes expects to be ‘better grappler’ than Jailton Almeida

LAS VEGAS – Curtis Blaydes thinks he has the grappling benefit over Jailton Almeida.

Blaydes (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) meets Almeida (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in a UFC Combat Evening principal occasion Nov. 4 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In a battle of two of the strongest grapplers within the division, Blaydes sees himself prevailing in that division.

“I just like the matchup, although,” Blaydes informed MMA Junkie at UFC X throughout Worldwide Combat Week. “I do like Almeida. I believe he’s going to come back in and look to grapple with me, and I really feel like I’m all the time going to be the higher grappler.”

Blaydes doesn’t bear in mind the final time somebody tried to shoot on him however welcomes the problem of Almeida’s grappling.

“It’s been a minute, and I believe he’s in all probability going to suppose, ‘Oh, he hasn’t needed to defend a takedown shortly so he’s going to be a little bit rusty.’ I’ve been wrestling since 2004. I’m not going to be rusty. My sprawls are all the time going to be 100%, and I look ahead to the problem of him making an attempt to take me down and me being the striker on this matchup.”

Blaydes doesn’t see himself getting stopped in any grappling exchanges. All 4 of Blaydes’ losses have come by knockout, so he says Almeida must put his lights out if he desires to get his arms raised.

“If he desires to play jiu-jitsu on the underside, that’s wonderful with me,” Blaydes mentioned. “He’ll lose the rounds and I don’t imagine I’m going to get caught in any slick submissions. You’re going to should knock me out. That’s the one approach you’re going to have the ability to beat me.”