Preview: UFC 213 ‘Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2’

Heavyweights

Daniel Omielanczuk (19-7-1) vs. Curtis Blaydes (7-1)

THE MATCHUP: Blaydes may have had his last win taken away from him because of yet another frustratingly pointless test for the potent PED known as cannabis, but he remains one of the most promising young fighters in the heavyweight division, second perhaps only to Francis Ngannou, who bested Blaydes in his UFC debut.

Blaydes is clearly one of the best takedown artists in the heavyweight division, and if his bout with Adam Milstead is any indication, he seems to have the stamina to throw around 230-pound men repeatedly without rest. His striking remains inconsistent, but he has the chin to withstand all but the most withering shots and the power and determination to make his own punches count.

Striking with Omielanczuk, however, would be ill-advised. While the stout Polish kickboxer does not have many knockouts to his name, he is surprisingly quick and offers a diverse array of strikes from his southpaw stance, darting in and out of range with stiff left hands and powerful kicks. Omielanczuk has been outwrestled before and often by men less skilled and less powerful than Blaydes, like Anthony Hamilton and Timothy Johnson.

THE ODDS: Blaydes (-800), Omielanczuk (+550)

THE PICK: Omielanczuk will have opportunities at range, but Blaydes is likely to tie him up or take him down at the first opportunity and batter him with strikes from strong positions of control. The pick is Blaydes by TKO in the second round.

Last Fights » The Prelims