The UFC makes its first appearance back in the states after a successful London run. In this heavyweight showdown, fourth-ranked Curtis Blaydes takes on ninth-ranked Chris Daukaus. Blaydes vs. Daukaus will be a key test for both fighters.
Daukaus has a great opportunity to move up in the rankings while Blaydes needs to stay in top form. Below you can catch the betting outlook for this fight.
Date: March 26, 2022
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Main Card on ESPN/ESPN at +7:00 PM
Blaydes vs Daukas Preview
“Razor” Blaydes is returning to action after a decision victory against Jairzinho Rozenstruik back in September of last year. That victory got him back on track, especially after being knocked out by Derrick Lewis in the previous fight.
So far, he has put together 14 battles under the UFC banner. This equals to 10 victories, three losses, and a no contest. Two out of those three losses have been against current UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou but earlier in their careers.
Blaydes is a dynamic wrestler and not afraid to put his opponents on the ground. He averages an astounding 6.30 takedowns in each 15 minutes of action, along with 43 percent of his significant strikes being ground and pounds.
Daukaus had some heavy momentum going in the heavyweight division with a five-fight win streak leading up to his previous bout with Derrick Lewis. Just like Blaydes, Daukaus was knocked out by Lewis in the first round of their fight.
He recently resigned from his duties as a police officer in Philadelphia to take on the UFC full time. He is about 30 pounds lighter on average than Blaydes, which could factor into this fight.
Daukaus quick movement, good hands, and precise boxing to counter with Blaydes. He also averages 7.71 significant strikes a minute, but this has been against solid competition and not yet consistently against top-five heavyweights.
Blaydes vs. Daukaus Odds
When looking at a UFC betting preview for Blaydes vs. Daukaus, you will notice Blaydes is a heavy favorite. On average, the moneyline has been the following:
Blaydes: -410
Daukaus:+310
*odds could change at any time
Potential Winner
Viewing Blaydes’ resumes, you will notice the three losses have all been against some of the best heavy hitters in the division. The two against current champ Ngannou and the recent loss to Lewis were both battles that ended sooner than he would have liked.
Daukaus has some good hands and a few knockouts on his resume that stand out. However, he has not yet shown that he has the same deadly knockout punch that can end a fight immediately like the tougher top heavyweights.
Blaydes has a four-inch reach and is a bit heavier than Daukaus. Daukaus will have a difficult time getting in close to land quality strikes and will be vulnerable to a relentless amount of takedowns. This Blaydes vs. Daukaus matchup could be ugly fast if Blaydes does what he wants on the ground.
Blaydes wins by TKO
