Get to know the betting odds, predictions and picks for the upcomimg Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev fight at UFC Baku!
Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev have been through many scheduling nightmares. Originally booked for February, then moved to UFC 313 in March where Blaydes fell sick with norovirus on fight day, this heavyweight bout has been rescheduled several times. Now they finally meet at UFC Fight Night in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 21st at the Baku Crystal Hall, marking the promotion’s first visit to the country.
The delays have been particularly tough on Kuniev, who has been waiting almost a year to make his UFC debut after earning his contract with a first-round technical knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series. The former Eagle FC heavyweight champion has been training and cutting weight multiple times, which can’t be easy on the body or mind. Meanwhile, Blaydes has been dealing with his own demons after suffering a brutal 60-second knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in his last outing, a defeat that essentially ended his title aspirations.
This heavyweight matchup presents a classic grappler versus striker dynamic. Blaydes enters as the significantly more experienced UFC veteran, having competed at the highest level of the division for years. The loss to Aspinall was particularly devastating because it happened so quickly, leaving fans wondering if his chin has become compromised.
Kuniev brings an intriguing skill set to his UFC debut. Standing 6’4″ but weighing only 240 pounds, he’s considerably lighter than most heavyweights, which could give him speed and cardio advantages. His striking statistics from regional competition are impressive. He landed 5.82 significant strikes per minute with 72% accuracy while absorbing just 1.25 strikes per minute.
The statistical breakdown heavily favors Blaydes in the wrestling department. He averages 5.69 takedowns per 15 minutes with 53% accuracy, making him one of the most active wrestlers in the heavyweight division. His ground control and top position dominance have been his calling cards throughout his UFC career. Kuniev’s 100% takedown defense looks impressive on paper, but those numbers come from a small sample size against regional competition. Defending takedowns from Curtis Blaydes represents a completely different challenge than anything he’s faced before.
The betting market reflects the significant experience gap between these fighters. According to BetMGM, Curtis Blaydes opens as a sizeable -275 favorite, indicating oddsmakers view this as a relatively straightforward victory for the veteran. Rizvan Kuniev’s odds around +220 suggest he is viewed as an underdog.
According to BetMGM, the fight going to the distance seems unlikely with odds currently at -125 to end before the final bell to +120 to see the judges decision.
This fight comes down to whether Rizvan Kuniev can keep it standing long enough to land something significant, or if Blaydes can implement his wrestling-heavy gameplan successfully. The experience and skill gap strongly favors Blaydes, who has proven himself against far superior competition throughout his UFC career. His wrestling credentials and top control make him a nightmare matchup for most heavyweights, particularly those making their promotional debut.
Kuniev’s path to victory requires him to stuff takedowns consistently while finding openings to land clean shots on the feet. His lighter frame could help with takedown defense and movement, but it also means he will struggle to get back to his feet once Blaydes establishes top position. The pressure of a UFC debut, combined with the long delay and multiple training camps, could also factor into his performance.
If we bet on the fight, we are going with Curtis Blaydes to win the fight via unanimous decision.
(All Odds According to BetMGM: BetMGM offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use BetMGM to ace your betting game in all sports!)
(Image Credit: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)
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