Curtis Blaydes adjustments issues up, drops Chris Daukaus with highly effective straight proper

Curtis Blaydes, one of the unapologetic wrestlers within the UFC, determined to point out off his fingers on Saturday.

A former collegiate wrestler, Blaydes (16-3) produced a highlight-reel end over Chris Daukaus (12-5) in the principle occasion of UFC Combat Evening at Nationwide Enviornment in Columbus, Ohio. The end got here simply 17 seconds into the second spherical, when Blaydes dropped Daukaus with a strong straight proper and completed him off with strikes on the bottom.

Blaydes, who has embraced his id as a wrestler all through his profession, admitted he wished to make “an announcement” on Saturday — and stated he knew Daukaus anticipated him to wrestle.

“I wished to place out an announcement,” Blaydes stated. “I do know everyone in right here, together with Chris Daukaus and his nook, everybody at house, had been all anticipating a [takedown]. That slows you down. You are ready for me to wrestle. Nicely, I am trying to do each. I noticed the chance, and it labored.”

Blaydes, who improved to 11-Three within the UFC, known as for an interim title combat — presumably in opposition to former mild heavyweight champion Jon Jones or former champion Stipe Miocic.

“I need to be identical to you, Stipe,” Blaydes informed Miocic, who was in attendance in Columbus. “Meaning I might need to beat you.”

The UFC’s present undisputed title belongs to Francis Ngannou, who simply underwent knee surgical procedure this month. He isn’t anticipated to combat once more till 2023. Which may go away the door open for the creation of an interim championship, though the UFC hasn’t formally introduced its near-future plans for the division.

Blaydes, of Chicago, actually gave the promotion one thing to consider. He didn’t try a single takedown in opposition to Daukaus, relying utterly on a repertoire of low leg kicks and fairly slick boxing abilities. He damage Daukaus with a proper hand within the first spherical, previous to placing the Philadelphia native away within the second.

Within the remaining sequence, Daukaus, who has eight profession finishes inside the primary spherical, managed to land a proper hand of his personal, however it was a break up second behind the one thrown by Blaydes. The combat in all probability might have been known as instantly, as Daukaus crumpled from the shot and will do nothing however cowl up.

Blaydes has gained six of his previous seven bouts. He has been very constant all through his UFC profession, nevertheless his losses have been massive ones. He was completed by Ngannou twice — in 2016 and 2018 — and most just lately misplaced to Derrick Lewis through second-round TKO in February 2021.

That is Blaydes’ seventh end within the UFC.