Curtis Blaydes is set to fight Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Seattle on February 22, 2025, following his recent loss to Tom Aspinall.
Curtis Blaydes is gearing up for his first fight of 2025. Exciting times ahead!
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin confirmed that Blaydes (18-5, 1 NC) will face Rizvan Kuniev (12-2-1, 1 NC). This bout is set for UFC Seattle on Feb. 22 at Climate Pledge Arena.
Interestingly, Kuniev’s teammate Jairzinho Rozenstruik was the one to spill the beans in an interview with James Lynch. A little inside scoop, perhaps?
Blaydes is coming off a tough loss to Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 last July. Their first encounter in July 2022 ended abruptly when Aspinall injured his knee just 15 seconds into the fight, handing Blaydes a win. Fast forward to their rematch, Aspinall, then interim heavyweight champ, finished Blaydes in just 60 seconds. Ouch! That defeat dropped Blaydes’ UFC record to 13-5 (1 NC).
As for Kuniev, his journey to the UFC has been anything but straightforward. The Russian heavyweight earned his spot after defeating Hugo Cunha on Dana White’s Contender Series this past August. However, his debut was delayed when his UFC 310 opponent Martin Buday pulled out.
Kuniev’s past includes stints with Eagle FC and PFL. But not without controversy—his win over Renan Ferreira was overturned due to a positive test for banned substances. A bit of drama there!
So, mark your calendars for Feb. 22nd—Blaydes vs. Kuniev at UFC Seattle promises some fireworks!