Last July, while Curtis Blaydes was fighting for the interim UFC heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall, Rizvan Kuniev was preparing for his contender series date against Hugo Cunha after a no contest against Renan Ferreira earlier in the year. This weekend, American Curtis Blaydes, a mainstay of the UFC heavyweight top echelon, will take on Rizvan Kuniev, who will make his promotional debut in the UFC. The heavyweights conclude the action on the preliminary card at UFC 313 this weekend in what is shaping up to be an intriguing and must-watch bout, with the veteran Blaydes a huge favorite to win.
Bet on Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev with 1xBet
MMA: UFC Heavyweight
Where to Watch: ESPN/ESPNews/Disney+
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Date: 09.03.2025 05:00
Curtis Blaydes
The 34-year-old Curtis Blaydes has one win from his last three fights. A KO of Jailton Almeida is flanked by two knockout losses to Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall. Ranked at number five in the division, Blaydes was bitterly disappointed when he lost the interim title to Aspinall at UFC 304 in just one minute. Blaydes had beaten Aspinall in 2022, knocking out the Englishman in the first round of their contest. Curtis Blaydes's last five fights have ended inside the distance, with "Razor" coming away with a 3-2 record. The ten-year MMA veteran has the most takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight history.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 34
- Height: 6’4”
- Reach: 80”
- Weight: 265 lbs (120kg)
- Record: 18-5-1 (NC)
Rizvan Kuniev
Rizvan Kuniev will make his UFC debut at 31 after two tryouts in the DWCS. The Russian heavyweight earned his contract with a first-round stoppage of Hugo Cunha last August. Before getting to the UFC, Kuniev had competed at Eagle FC and PFL, claiming the Heavyweight gold at Eagle FC and famously beating Renan Ferreira in the PFL 2023 Regular season. The win over the PFL legend was later overturned to a no contest after Kuniev tested positive for banned substances. The Dagestani has a foundational style in Wushu Sanda.
Tale of Tapes
- Age: 31
- Height: 6'4"
- Reach: 76"
- Weight: 265 lbs (120kg)
- Record: 13-2-1
Betting Odds
Rizvan Kuniev is a 3.285 underdog on 1xbet, with the favorite by KO at 2.28 odds. On Betway, over 2.5 is available at 1.79 odds, while fight to go the distance is at 2.34 odds. A first-round finish for Curtis Blaydes is at 3.80 odds on Bet365, with the Russian by decision priced at 7.50 odds. Read more here.
Bet on Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev with 1xBet
