CURTIS BLAYDES

Hailing from the United States, Curtis Blaydes began his journey through collegiate wrestling, capturing a national title at Harper College. He entered the professional ranks in 2014 before joining the heavyweight roster of the Ultimate Fighting Championship two years later. Training out of the Elevation Fight Team, the orthodox competitor established himself as a prominent figure within the division by relying on his extensive wrestling background. Throughout his tenure, he has earned high-profile triumphs over established veterans including Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Alexander Volkov.

Entering the event, Blaydes holds an overall record of 19 victories, 6 defeats, and one no-contest. His recent performance history includes a unanimous decision loss to Josh Hokit in April 2026, preceded by a split decision win over Rizvan Kuniev. Previously, he faced a knockout defeat against Tom Aspinall, a knockout victory against Jailton Almeida, and a technical knockout loss to Sergei Pavlovich.