Back to the MMA Newsfeed

Report: Curtis Blaydes vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov in the works for UFC 242

A heavyweight fight between top contender Curtis Blaydes and Shamil Abdurakhimov is being targeted for UFC 242 in September.

Farah Hannoun first reported the news on Tuesday, though the UFC is yet to confirm the matchup. Blaydes is currently ranked at number four in the heavyweight division, whilst Abdurakhimov sits at the number ten slot.

Blaydes (11-2, 1NC) last fought in March at UFC Nashville when he defeated Justin Willis by a one-sided unanimous decision. “Razor” went on an impressive four-fight win streak, including stoppage wins over Alistair Overeem and Aleksei Oleinik. However, his streak was ended by Francis Ngannou when Blaydes was knocked out in just 45-seconds last November.