Curtis Blaydes (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Curtis Blaydes’ only defeat to date came against Francis Ngannou back in 2016, but the heavyweight says the latter will face a different fighter in their rematch.

Blaydes faced Ngannou at UFC FN 86, and lost the bout via TKO, as a result of a doctor stoppage (the fighter’s right eye was swollen shut). The two are going to fight again in the headliner of UFC Beijing this Saturday. In advance of the rematch, Blaydes spoke with UFC.com, and while doing so he reported this:

“I’m a complete MMA fighter. The last time I went in there I was legitimately just a wrestler and now I have actual boxing skills, kickboxing skills and jiu jitsu skills. So I’m just a different fighter.”

“The biggest difference between this fight and last fight is that when I get the takedown I know what to do with it now. I know where I should put my hands, I know where to position myself in order to effectively hold him down and strike at the same time.”

When asked where he believes he has the greatest advantage over Ngannou, the explosive wrestler stated:

“Biggest advantage I feel that I have over him is my conditioning advantage. I live in Denver, Colorado so I train at 5500-5800 feet elevation every day. I know he has moved back to Paris and I don’t think they have over like 800 feet of elevation so I should have the conditioning advantage.”

Blaydes (10-1, 1 no-contest) is coming off a vicious, stoppage win over Alistair Overeem in June.