MIAMI – Curtis Blaydes understands the comparisons between him and UFC 299 opponent Jailton Almeida, however he thinks the similarities finish exterior of the grappling division.
“That’s the great thing about being multifaceted,” Blaydes instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a pre-fight information convention Wednesday. “I don’t have one path to victory. I can win on the toes. I can grapple. I’ve all the time proven I’ve the ability to knock guys out. I’m very assured I will out-show him on the toes.”
Blaydes (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) and Almeida (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) have been imagined to compete in November in Brazil. Nevertheless, Blaydes withdrew because of two ankle accidents. He watched carefully on combat night time as Almeida dragged substitute Derrick Lewis everywhere in the canvas.
Regardless of the dominant efficiency, Blaydes acknowledges the issues that weren’t on show. Blaydes mentioned Almeida’s strict give attention to grappling reminds him of a former UFC welterweight title challenger.
“He did what I assumed he was going to do, take him down,” Blaydes mentioned. “I didn’t suppose he’d wish to hang around on the toes in any respect. He hasn’t actually proven something with footwork and fingers. He’s a conventional jiu-jitsu man. He’s like a heavyweight model of Demian Maia.”
The perceived flaw in Almeida just isn’t distinctive to only him, based on Blaydes, who sees the heavyweight division as an entire struggling handily with takedowns.
“It’s lots of guys,” Blaydes mentioned. “A variety of guys at heavyweight discover one ability they usually’re like, ‘Oh, that works.’ They don’t develop. They don’t increase on it. Why would they? He had a lot success. I don’t suppose he’s going to return out and, oh, he’s going to wish to strike now. Similar to you mentioned, the teep into the blast double leg, it really works as a result of these different heavyweights have by no means sprawled of their life. I sprawl on a regular basis. I suppose we’ll see.”
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