Curtis Blaydes in the last two years has gone from unwitting victim of the 2016-17 Francis Ngannou rampage to legitimate title contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division. In his first headlining assignment, Blaydes will meet Ngannou in a rematch atop UFC Fight Night 141 on Nov. 24 at Cadillac Arena in Beijing. There, he hopes to avenge his only career setback and stake his claim as the No. 1 contender to heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier’s throne.
Blaydes remembers his first encounter with Ngannou well, as it concluded in between the second and third rounds, with the cageside physician deeming him unfit to continue because of swelling on his right eye.