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Anyone who still thinks Curtis Blaydes is “just” a wrestler is wrong. The American heavyweight once again showed the power of his hands this Saturday in the main event of UFC Columbus. “Razor” landed a straight right that took down fellow countryman Chris Daukaus and settled the bill with blows to the fallen opponent, to leave with a TKO victory at 17 seconds of the second round.
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Curtis Blaydes Announced Winner Against Chris Daukaus at UFC Columbus — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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Known for his wrestling, Blaydes this time made no mention of grabbing Daukaus. In a first round without much emotion, he kept the opponent at a distance using the jab and the right, and even opened a cut on Daukaus’ left eyebrow with a right punch. In the second round, Daukaus wanted to go for the standup with a low hand and paid dearly. Blaydes landed a direct hit and knocked the opponent down. A few sledgehammers later, referee Herb Dean was declaring the fight over.
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“Razor” reached his second straight victory, his fifth in the last six fights and the third TKO in this sequence. In addition to telling competitors that it’s better to prepare because he can grab and hit, the American asked for an interim title fight against Frenchman Ciryl Gane (current champion Francis Ngannou is expected to be out for nine months after surgery on his knee).
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– I think I deserve a fight for the interim belt against Gane! It could be June, July, whatever, I’m ready – exclaimed Curtis Blaydes.
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Curtis Blaydes (left) lands a left jab on Chris Daukaus (right) — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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Kara-France qualifies for the belt
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In a fight that could decide the next number 1 challenger at flyweight, New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France beat Russian Askar Askarov by unanimous decision (29-28 triple) in a very balanced match. The first round was all Askarov’s: he grabbed the opponent, knocked him down, backpacked and almost finished with a rear naked choke.
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Kai Kara-France (right) celebrates as he is announced the winner against Askar Askarov (left) — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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In the second round, however, Kara-France came back bitten and stole the moment of the fight with a straight right that raised the crowd. A combination of crosses hurt Askarov, and the left went into the Russian’s chin multiple times. The last round was the most even. Askarov tried to pack the New Zealander again, but ended up falling to the side. Kara-France even knocked the Russian off balance with a low kick and had a small advantage on his feet, enough to win the round and the fight.
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It was Askarov’s first career defeat, after 14 wins and one draw. Kara-France won the third in a row and said that Brandon Moreno should face champion Deiveson Figueiredo soon, but that he wants his next shot at the belt.
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Brown and Barberena give a show of beating
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as expected, Matt Brown and Bryan Barberena delivered a very busy fight. In the second round, very even, Barberena opened a cut below the eye of the home fighter, but Brown almost finished him with a triangle choke. In the last round, it was Brown who cut open his opponent’s forehead with an elbow. The two exchanged openly for most of the round and came out to a standing ovation. In the end, however, the crowd booed the split decision in favor of Barberena (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – Columbus is in Ohio, home of Matt Brown.
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Matt Brown (left) and Bryan Barberena (right) had a spectacular fight at UFC Columbus — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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Magny and Griffin Reward Main Card Promotion
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Promoted to the main card with the cancellation of Ilir Latifi x Alexey Oleynik (Latifi was vetoed due to a non-Covid-19 illness), welterweights Max Griffin and Neil Magny put on a show for the audience. Griffin dominated the first round, landing a lot of low and straight kicks. A right hook knocked Magny down. In the second round, the “Haitian Sensation” reacted and began to go toe-to-toe with Griffin, who seemed to tire in the second half of the round. The third and final period belonged entirely to Magny, who dominated the opponent in the back and had a great advantage in connected punches. In the end, victory Neil Magny by split decision.
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Neil Magny lifts Max Griffin and nearly throws him out of the Octagon on the final stretch of the match — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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The result equaled Neil Magny to legend Georges St-Pierre as the record holder for welterweight wins in the UFC, with 19.
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Grasso submits Wood in the first round
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Alexa Grasso closes the rear naked choke that submitted Joanne Wood — Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
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Mexican Alexa Grasso got the first submission of her career by beating Scottish Joanne Wood. She dodged a round elbow from “JoJo” and grabbed it to take it down. On the ground, she quickly took her back and closed a rear naked choke. Wood hit a forfeit with 3:57 in the first round.
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UFC Blaydes x Daukaus
March 26, 2022 in Ohio (USA)
CARD PRINCIPAL
Curtis Blaydes defeated Chris Daukaus by TKO at 17s of R2
Alexa Grasso defeated Joanne Wood by submission at 3:57 of R1
Bryan Barberena won Matt Brown by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Kai Kara-France defeated Askar Askarov via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Neil Magny defeated Max Griffin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Mark Diakiese defeated Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27 treble)
CARD PRELIMINAR
Sara McMann defeated Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Chris Gutierrez defeated Danaa Batgerel by TKO at 2:34 of R2
Aliaskhab Khizriev defeated Denis Tiuliulin via submission at 1min58s of R2
Manon Fiorot defeated Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision (30-27 triple)
Matheus Nicolau defeated David Dvorak by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Luis Saldaña defeated Bruno Souza by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
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UFC 273: Two title fights you can only see live in Combat! — Photo: Infoesporte
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UFC 273: Two title fights you can only see live in Combat!
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