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Because the first day Curtis Blaydes arrived within the UFC, the heavyweight title has nearly at all times been underneath duress for one motive or one other.
Whether or not the belt was tied up within the Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier trilogy or Francis Ngannou was at odds with the UFC over his contract, the trail to a shot at heavyweight gold has at all times been full of obstacles. The most recent occasion entails the harm Jon Jones suffered that prevented him from combating Miocic this previous November, and the UFC in the end crowning Tom Aspinall as an interim champion in his absence.
Since that point, Aspinall has repeatedly referred to as for an opportunity to unify the titles, nevertheless the UFC has made it clear that Jones stays on a collision course with Miocic someday in 2024. As a lot as that state of affairs as soon as once more muddies the waters at heavyweight, perennial top-five contender Curtis Blaydes understands why that’s taking place.
“That’s simply the character of the beast,” Blaydes informed MMA Preventing. “It’s a enterprise. We get it. Jon Jones vs. Stipe proper now, with out both of them having one other potential [loss], is the most important heavyweight struggle of the century. It truly is. The UFC’s going to do every little thing to protect that. I get it. That’s how the enterprise grows. It’s good for the UFC general. The more cash they make, the more cash all people makes.
“I feel Aspinall understands, that’s why he stopped asking. He understands that is simply enterprise. It’s not that they don’t consider he’s a superb matchup for Jon. It’s that he’s not going to get as many pay-per-view buys as Stipe. That’s simply what it’s. I get it. I really feel for him.”
As Miocic approaches 42 years of age after sitting out since struggling a knockout loss to Ngannou in 2021, an argument might simply be made that Aspinall would truly be a more durable struggle for Jones at this stage of his profession.
As a lot as that narrative might get pushed, Blaydes scoffs at the concept that Jones would take the struggle with Miocic merely to keep away from a showdown with Aspinall.
“Jon’s not petrified of no person,” Blaydes mentioned. “He’s not petrified of Aspinall. He’s going after Stipe. Stipe is the scariest heavyweight of the previous 15 odd years. He’s going after him. I don’t suppose he’s scared or nothing.
“It’s about cash. I can’t blame him, particularly if that is going to be his final one. Get the bag after which bounce.”
In fact, Blaydes has his personal historical past with Aspinall after they briefly met in a essential occasion struggle in London again in July 2022. On that night time, Blaydes gained after Aspinall suffered a devastating knee harm that ended his night time simply 15 seconds into the opening spherical.
Regardless of proudly owning a win over Aspinall on his document, Blaydes doesn’t bloviate about that struggle or use it as a technique to jab on the present UFC interim heavyweight champion. As a substitute, the 33-year-old former school wrestler prefers to take a look at his transient historical past with Aspinall as unfinished enterprise — and a rematch he’d completely prefer to pursue.
“I don’t even brag about that win,” Blaydes mentioned. “I don’t inform folks, ‘Oh, I beat Aspinall!’ I don’t actually. That’s not how I really feel about it. It’s not a type of I can brag about. I’d prefer to get a braggable win although. I would love that.
“Had it gone the opposite method, I wouldn’t respect him if he was bragging that he beat me. I’m like, ‘You didn’t beat me, I obtained injured,’ and that’s how I view it. I do know it’s a win for me and a loss for him, however it may be beneath the numbers, I view it as an incomplete.”
As he prepares to face Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 on Saturday, Blaydes understands the risky nature of the heavyweight division may truly favor him this time round.
As a result of he has a previous historical past with Aspinall, Blaydes might probably soar to the entrance of the road with a win over Almeida. Provided that — and Jones vs. Miocic successfully making Aspinall the odd man out — Blaydes might slot proper in as an opponent for Aspinall’s interim heavyweight title if he will get previous Almeida.
That being mentioned, Blaydes can’t state with any quantity of certainty that the state of affairs will truly unfold as a result of it’s simply inconceivable to foretell what occurs subsequent.
“I win, it’s not in stone,” Blaydes mentioned. “Brock Lesnar might come out of the blue. That is the UFC. I do know who I’m. I understand how the UFC views me. I understand how they view different guys. Different guys with accents. I understand how it’s. There’s no assure for something past this struggle. Hell, I might win and get launched. I’ve seen crazier issues occur, so I don’t look past Almeida in any respect.”
Blaydes confesses that he’s come to grasp his standing within the UFC hierarchy and he’s not likely complaining about it as a result of it does him no good. That doesn’t imply he likes the best way the game has swung so vehemently in direction of the loudest guys within the room getting essentially the most consideration, however he additionally is aware of there’s actually nothing he can do about it.
“[UFC views me] as not a star,” Blaydes mentioned. “I don’t have that character just like the [Israel Adesanyas] and the Paddy [Pimbletts]. I don’t discuss smack. I don’t do plenty of self-promotion. I don’t try this stuff. I perceive the alternatives I cross on by not being like these guys. That’s simply not who I’m and I’m not going to pressure it. I get it. It’s OK. The cash’s good. I’m pleased with simply the cash. I don’t want the status and all that stuff.
“Don’t hate the participant, hate the sport. I hate the sport. I hate that’s how it’s important to get rewarded, however I don’t need to play that. I don’t hate [Conor] McGregor. It labored out for him. It often works out for the loudmouths, the massive mouths. So long as you’re profitable and also you’ve obtained a loud mouth, it often works out.”
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