UFC Vegas 71 Preview (Blaydes vs. Pavlovich)
The UFC is heading back to the Apex in Lax Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 71 on Saturday April 22. The main event will be a heavyweight fight with major title implications between #3 Sergei Pavlovich and #4 Curtis Blaydes.
Pavlovich has won five straight fights and most recently defeated Tai Tuivasa by first round KO in December. His only professional loss came in 2018 where he lost by TKO to Alistair Overeem, since then he has tallied five straight finishes in dominant fashion.
The 30-year-old is looking to seize the biggest moment of his career. “I think it’s going to be a great show,” Pavlovich said. “I think it’s going to be a great fight. There’s going to be two fighters in there that are not willing to back down. Nobody is trying to give the other person a chance. Everyone is fighting for the same goal. So I think it’s going to be a fun fight, it’s going to be an interesting fight, and everyone who tunes in is going to see a show.”
While the talks of the winner of this fight could earn a heavyweight title shot, the Russian fighter is not looking that far into the future. “I don’t really think ahead this moment,” Pavlovich said. “I’m only thinking about and concentrating on the fight ahead of me.”
Pavlovich believes he knows how to defeat Blaydes. “Patience will be key,” says Pavlovich. “I can’t foresee the future, but I don’t think this will end in the first round. Curtis knows the stakes, too. There is a potential title shot on the line.”
Aside from Tuivasa, Pavlovich has key victories over Derrick Lewis, Shamil Abdurakhimov and Maurice Greene. Blaydes represents the biggest of win his career and it would be hard to deny him a title shot, especially if he can win in devastating fashion.
Blaydes has won three straight fights and most recently defeated Tom Aspinall by TKO in July, after Aspinall suffered a knee injury. Blaydes has twice in his career potentially been one win away from earning that elusive title shot, a win over Pavlovich puts him in that same position.
Blaydes has come up short in key fights against Derrick Lewis and former champion Francis Ngannou. A win on Saturday puts the Chicago born fighter in a prime position to call for a title shot. But does Blaydes think he will be next in line?
“I know what I’m working toward,” Blaydes said. “If I win, I’ll wait. I’ll wait for a title shot. I don’t care who it is. If it’s Jon (Jones), if it’s Stipe (Miocic), if they bring in Brock Lesnar, I’ll wait.”
Does Blaydes thinks he matches up well with current heavyweight champion Jon Jones? “The wrestling I present, it’s a problem,” Blaydes said. “If you don’t think so, then you don’t really understand MMA. The ability for me to take the fight from on the feet to the ground when I want to puts more mental pressure on my opponents that have to think about it. Even if I don’t actually shoot, you know it’s an option and it’s something for you to think about. I use that and I think I can use that against Jon.”
Blaydes concluded, “I’m not in this for glory,” Blaydes said. “That’s not what wakes me up and gets me working out in the morning. I’m here for money. And I know if I get the belt, I get more money. Whoever I have to fight to get the belt, I really don’t care who it is. It’d help, obviously, if it was Jon. It helps my legacy, but it’s not the end-all, be-all for me.”
Aside from Aspinall, Blaydes has key victories in his career over Jairzinho Rozenstruick, Alexander Volkov, Junior Dos Santos, Shamil Abdurakhimov, Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt and Alexey Oleynik. A win on Saturday will finally prove he can get over the championship hump and be the next fighter to challenge for the heavyweight title.
The Rest of the Main Card:
Middleweight - Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva
Lightweight - Bobby Green vs. Jared Gordon
Strawweight - Iasmin Lucindo vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez
Welterweight - Jeremiah Wells vs. Matthew Semelsberger
ESPN + Prelims:
Lightweight - Ricky Glenn vs. Christos Giagos
Bantamweight - Rani Yahya vs. Montel Jackson
Women’ Featherweight - #9 Karol Rosa vs. #13 Norma Dumont
Heavyweight - Mohammas Usman vs. Junior Tafa
Featherweight - Francis Marshall vs. William Gomis
Women’s Flyweight - Priscila Cachoeira vs. Karine Silva
Bantamweight - Brady Heistand vs. Danaa Batgerel
