News Curtis Blaydes vs Chris Daukaus set for March 26th as new main event for UFC Columbus

Who wins?

  • Total voters
    119
strange choice for a main event, Daukas looked horrible his last fight
 
Curtis Blaydes has successfully taken his opponents down 62 times during his UFC career and been credited with a grand total of 0 submission attempts.

What has he been working on in the five plus years he has been on the UFC roster? This is not a fighter who is constantly improving or doing anything other than the bare minimum if even that.

Daukaus has knocked his opponents down six times over the course of his five UFC fights. Thats how he wins and while I by no means favor Daukaus to win he has a very realistic path to victory.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TR1
Interesting. This sucks because I like both guys a lot. I really don't think Daukaus deserved this fight. Daukaus is ranked #7 coming off a loss, Blaydes is ranked #4 coming off a win... but then again, everyone below Daukaus is already booked or coming off of losses themselves. I'm surprised Blaydes isn't fighting up the rankings, though. I guess this confirms Stipe is either steadfastly refusing to fight anyone if it isn't for the title or has other plans. Not sure about Gane.

As for the fight itself, I've been waiting for someone to meaningfully test Daukaus's defensively grappling. Oleinik is the only one who tried to grapple with him in his awkward club & sub style. He officially attempted only one takedown, which Chris stuffed. No real surprise there, especially since Aleksei has looked incredibly stiff and labored for years now. Shamil -- for reasons that I will never comprehend -- refused to wrestle Daukaus even after getting his shit rocked in the first round despite being a capable grappler. Chris has no wrestling background, but is supposedly a legit BJJ Black Belt and trains primarily out of a BJJ gym for his fights. I've seen him drilling scrambles and whatnot for his fights and his brother is a solid primary grappler. But it's all supposition and hearsay. He's never submitted anyone in his pro or ammy career, but he did get submitted once on the regional scene. He's also a bit small for the division. I haven't watched any of his old fights to see if he fought any primary wrestlers or to assess what his TDD is like.

I'm not saying Chris can't defend Curtis's takedowns; it's entirely possible that he can, but he's a bit of the unknown quantity in this match-up. Well, there's also the fact that Blaydes has somewhat... inconsistent wrestling. Some fights he looks dominant, others he can't anything going. But on the bright side he at least has the option of going to the well with his takedowns; not to mention he's looking sharper on the feet with his boxing & Muay Thai every time he steps into the cage. Chris looked very, very human for most of Round 1 against Shamil. While I absolutely don't think Blaydes could win a technical striking match against him (nor would he try to), I think the standup exchanges could end up being more even than one thinks given Curtis's massive reach advantage and the fact that he'll have a TD threat.
 
Last edited:
Blaydes gonna hug and thug em hopefully!
 
I still got Blaydes holding the belt at some point.
His window is closing though and I'm not sure if there really are adjustments to his defense to make to avoid heavy-handed strikers. Sometimes those shots land. He probably needs to get a little luck avoiding power, favorable matchups, or develop a high level ranged kicking game/jab to chain his wrestling behind. Nothing to crazy or fancy, not even a ton of combos because that would leave him too open for the counter. Just enough to keep the fight boring and at distance until he can get it to his strength.
 
UFCIsNOTRigged said:
Curtis Blaydes has successfully taken his opponents down 62 times during his UFC career and been credited with a grand total of 0 submission attempts.

What has he been working on in the five plus years he has been on the UFC roster? This is not a fighter who is constantly improving or doing anything other than the bare minimum if even that.

Daukaus has knocked his opponents down six times over the course of his five UFC fights. Thats how he wins and while I by no means favor Daukaus to win he has a very realistic path to victory.
Click to expand...

Blaydes is actually a very limited grappler. People get duped because he smashed some physically outmatched grandpas on the ground, but vs non fossils? He looks pedestrian indeed vs Roz, Volkov, etc.

Hopefully he gets KOed and cut.
 
Maybe Chris can knuckle him up like he did on his nice run he had there….
 
UFCIsNOTRigged said:
Curtis Blaydes has successfully taken his opponents down 62 times during his UFC career and been credited with a grand total of 0 submission attempts.

What has he been working on in the five plus years he has been on the UFC roster? This is not a fighter who is constantly improving or doing anything other than the bare minimum if even that.

Daukaus has knocked his opponents down six times over the course of his five UFC fights. Thats how he wins and while I by no means favor Daukaus to win he has a very realistic path to victory.
Click to expand...
Not sure what you're getting at bud. Takedowns are not solely meant to end in submissions. Blayde's gameplan has always revolved around ground n pound, so I don't think a lack of submission means that he's not evolving.

His ground n pound against Overeem was nasty. If you wanna say he's not evolving, I would moreso point to the fact that recently he's never close to finishing fights despite having a lot of time on top.
 
TR1 said:
Blaydes is actually a very limited grappler. People get duped because he smashed some physically outmatched grandpas on the ground, but vs non fossils? He looks pedestrian indeed vs Roz, Volkov, etc.

Hopefully he gets KOed and cut.
Click to expand...
Nobody thinks he's a grappler tho. He's a solid wrestler with some inconsistent ground and pound
 
Pretty shitty main event, but happy to see the HW division moving forward. I’d like to see Volkov vs Aspinall as well.
 
Curtis is going to crush him.
 
Daukus trying to get cut expeditiously before his LEO certification expires and he can’t get his job back.
 
UFCIsNOTRigged said:
Curtis Blaydes has successfully taken his opponents down 62 times during his UFC career and been credited with a grand total of 0 submission attempts.

What has he been working on in the five plus years he has been on the UFC roster? This is not a fighter who is constantly improving or doing anything other than the bare minimum if even that.

Daukaus has knocked his opponents down six times over the course of his five UFC fights. Thats how he wins and while I by no means favor Daukaus to win he has a very realistic path to victory.
Click to expand...

Big Blaydes fan here. This is actually one of my biggest pet peeves with him. He's one of those fighters who has inexplicably shows zero interest in an offensive submission game -- the sole exception being when he tried to put the hooks in and crank a half-assed RNC against Hunt at the end of Round 1 in their fight. This is much like Stipe, who despite being a good wrestler has only one thing that could even come close to being an attempt at a submission (an equally half-assed RNC attempt against Francis in their first fight near the end of a round from back mount IIRC). Same with Cain Velasquez, who was actually a BJJ Black Belt in addition to his excellent offensive wrestling game but never showed any interest in submitting dudes even when he probably could have. Instead he liked beating them into a fucking pulp. Prospect Blaydes followed this meta and in one of his post-fight interviews (don't remember which one) he actually talks about all the time he spends with his BJJ coach training how to seamlessly blend his Jiu-Jitsu with his wrestling in order to improve his mastery of top control, advancing position, guard-passing, and getting into position in order to rain down his punches & elbows.

Now this was excusable to me a couple of years ago back when Curtis was active on top: improving position and unleashing GnP once he secured takedowns. With performances like the ones he had against Shamil, Reem, Justin Willis, Cody East, it was hard to argue that he had huge holes in his game because the strikes were typically there when he needed them despite a few fights where he was a bit less active on top, though not to the same degree he is today (which brings me to my next point). After the Shamil fight, the Curtis who took dudes down and brutalized them pretty much disappeared.
He couldn't get shopworn JDS down and had to box his ears off instead for a standing TKO... which, okay, sure? Then the Volkov fight, which even as a Curtis homer I say should always live on in infamy. He did good in scoring so many takedowns I guess, but his normally solid top control looked porous, his gas tank drained rapidly, and he was incredibly inactive after securing said TDs. Couldn't make anything happen with the wrestling against Lewis, who is not exactly a paragon of defensive grappling until it comes to literally bench-pressing dudes off him after they get him down. I was surprised he was able to take down Rozenstruik as easily as he did, but I'd argue he actually looked worse than Reem did against the guy (though you could maybe chalk that up to improvements in Jairzinho's defensive grappling)... but again, little GnP.

I keep hoping the Blaydes of old will reappear: the guy who could reliably secure takedowns and advance position before raining down hellbows, punches, and hammerfists... or maybe that he'll add in a wrinkle of offensive submissions to his game. But it doesn't seem likely at this point. Instead he's fallen into a bit of a rut where he's actually the best he's ever been on the feet, albeit not elite and/or confident enough to stand with the killers he's often matched with for a full three rounds and so he mixes in his takedowns haphazardly to achieve the necessary top control to ride out conservative wins while playing it very safe.

Arrrrgh said:
I still got Blaydes holding the belt at some point.
His window is closing though and I'm not sure if there really are adjustments to his defense to make to avoid heavy-handed strikers. Sometimes those shots land. He probably needs to get a little luck avoiding power, favorable matchups, or develop a high level ranged kicking game/jab to chain his wrestling behind. Nothing to crazy or fancy, not even a ton of combos because that would leave him too open for the counter. Just enough to keep the fight boring and at distance until he can get it to his strength.
Click to expand...

I think he needs a new camp. I love Elevation as much as the next guy, but I feel like they are an MMA striking gym first and foremost. It's almost like they have a grappling blind spot -- both offensively and defensively.

They've done an excellent job of leveling up Curtis's confidence and technique when it comes to his boxing & Muay Thai skills compared to his debut. But it's become clear that his base skills, his roots, the thing that got him to the dance -- his dominant wrestling accompanied by fight-ending GnP -- have atrophied (or quite possibly were never sufficient for higher-level competition). It's also become clear to me that EFT can't or won't be able to remedy this. I think Sanford MMA would be a perfect fit for him. Failing that, ATT or AKA.
 
Last edited:
Safton said:
Big Blaydes fan here. This is actually one of my biggest pet peeves with him. He's one of those fighters who has inexplicably shows zero interest in an offensive submission game -- the sole exception being when he tried to put the hooks in and crank a half-assed RNC against Hunt at the end of Round 1 in their fight. This is much like Stipe, who despite being a good wrestler has only one thing that could even come close to being an attempt at a submission (an equally half-assed RNC attempt against Francis in their first fight near the end of a round from back mount IIRC). Same with Cain Velasquez, who was actually a BJJ Black Belt in addition to his excellent offensive wrestling game but never showed any interest in submitting dudes even when he probably could have. Instead he liked beating them into a fucking pulp. Prospect Blaydes followed this meta and in one of his post-fight interviews (don't remember which one) he actually talks about all the time he spends with his BJJ coach training how to seamlessly blend his Jiu-Jitsu with his wrestling in order to improve his mastery of top control, advancing position, guard-passing, and getting into position in order to rain down his punches & elbows.

Now this was excusable to me a couple of years ago back when Curtis was active on top: improving position and unleashing GnP once he secured takedowns. With performances like the ones he had against Shamil, Reem, Justin Willis, Cody East, it was hard to argue that he had huge holes in his game because the strikes were typically there when he needed them despite a few fights where he was a bit less active on top, though not to the same degree he is today (which brings me to my next point). After the Shamil fight, the Curtis who took dudes down and brutalized them pretty much disappeared.
He couldn't get shopworn JDS down and had to box his ears off instead for a standing TKO... which, okay, sure? Then the Volkov fight, which even as a Curtis homer I say should always live on in infamy. He did good in scoring so many takedowns I guess, but his normally solid top control looked porous, his gas tank drained rapidly, and he was incredibly inactive after securing said TDs. Couldn't make anything happen with the wrestling against Lewis, who is not exactly a paragon of defensive grappling until it comes to literally bench-pressing dudes off him after they get him down. I was surprised he was able to take down Rozenstruik as easily as he did, but I'd argue he actually looked worse than Reem did against the guy (though you could maybe chalk that up to improvements in Jairzinho's defensive grappling)... but again, little GnP.

I keep hoping the Blaydes of old will reappear: the guy who could reliably secure takedowns and advance position before raining down hellbows, punches, and hammerfists... or maybe that he'll add in a wrinkle of offensive submissions to his game. But it doesn't seem likely at this point.



I think he needs a new camp. I love Elevation as much as the next guy, but I feel like they are an MMA striking gym first and foremost. I feel like they have a grappling blind spot -- both offensively and defensively. They've done an excellent job of leveling up Curtis's confidence and technique when it comes to his boxing & Muay Thai skills compared to his debut. But it's become clear that his base skills, his roots, the thing that got him to the dance -- his dominant wrestling accompanied by fight-ending GnP -- has atrophied (or quite possibly never sufficient for higher-level competition). It's become clear to me that EFT can't or won't be able to remedy this. I think Sanford MMA would be a perfect fit for him. Failing that, ATT or AKA.
Click to expand...
Good points though I'd hesitate to throw too much shade at the gym/coaches. Sometimes it's hard for a fighter to move on because of friendship/loyalty (and doing it wrong could make you into dillashaw/snake references) but you can't be the best in the world without seeking out learning new things. Some coaches have the ability to constantly add new stuff and study film like savages to always challenge their fighters, others are very good at what they do but just don't do well outside their comfort zone.
In short, I agree. I think perhaps a change of scenery is the thing that could revitalize his career--he clearly needs to make changes. But I don't think it's because the gym is bad (which you didn't say or insinuate, just stating it clearly here).
Samford with Hooft and Kamaru would be dope.
AKA too. I can imagine a whole knew blaydes in just 6 months at either gym.
I don't know if ATT is the best fit for him but if he could get individual attention there he needs and just the access to a fresh scene/training partners and those facilities, etc. It could reinvigorate him.
And the skill/training hump might be half the battle for Blaydes. I think anyone that keeps coming close and losing the same way also could use some mental game work (although hearing blaydes speak he always sounds super level headed and rational about things so I could be off on that assumption).
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
Sadly Daukas quit his job as a Police officer before the Lewis fight. And we saw how that fight ended.

I think Blaydes has this though
Click to expand...
Daukaus couldn't win after he gave up his badge and gun.

"Active Duty Cop Daukaus" rejoins the Mt Rushmore of UFC mythical creatures.
 
Arrrrgh said:
Good points though I'd hesitate to throw too much shade at the gym/coaches. Sometimes it's hard for a fighter to move on because of friendship/loyalty (and doing it wrong could make you into dillashaw/snake references) but you can't be the best in the world without seeking out learning new things. Some coaches have the ability to constantly add new stuff and study film like savages to always challenge their fighters, others are very good at what they do but just don't do well outside their comfort zone.
In short, I agree. I think perhaps a change of scenery is the thing that could revitalize his career--he clearly needs to make changes. But I don't think it's because the gym is bad (which you didn't say or insinuate, just stating it clearly here).
Samford with Hooft and Kamaru would be dope.
AKA too. I can imagine a whole knew blaydes in just 6 months at either gym.
I don't know if ATT is the best fit for him but if he could get individual attention there he needs and just the access to a fresh scene/training partners and those facilities, etc. It could reinvigorate him.
And the skill/training hump might be half the battle for Blaydes. I think anyone that keeps coming close and losing the same way also could use some mental game work (although hearing blaydes speak he always sounds super level headed and rational about things so I could be off on that assumption).
Click to expand...

I get what you're saying and I'm trying to shit on EFT by any means. They're one of my favorite gyms, actually. It's impossible to know beforehand how Blaydes and his (former?) team would take to him leaving the gym to seek greener pastures, but I do genuinely believe he's at a point in his career where it's sorely needed.

Sanford I think would be ideal. They did a great job of revitalizing Brunson's career by getting him back to his wrestling, Brendan Allen has gotten even better since going there, and they have a huge stable of wrestlers/grapplers. I also feel like Hooft's Dutch kickboxing curriculum is one that Curtis would take well to.

AKA feels like an obvious choice because it's known as "the" wrestling camp these days and I feel like Blaydes could certainly learn from a lot of the minds there.

ATT I was on the fence about because it's not often known as a strong wrestling camp in terms of the fighters it produces, but if you look at the website it does actually host regular wrestling clinics and the like. Their facilities are also excellent and I think he'd have plenty of good training partners and coaching staff to gameplan with. I think you got it right, probably a distant third unless he gets individual attention, but if he does I think it would be a solid camp for him. ATT is good at polishing fighters.

Honestly, if it wasn't for Francis being there I'd even argue that Xtreme Couture might be a stylistically good gym for him, albeit a bit of a dark horse compared to the other powerhouses listed.
 
So much for once somewhat promising prospect. He'll lose to Blaydes decisively.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,280,335
Messages
58,276,058
Members
175,990
Latest member
dobetterinc

Share this page

Back
Top