Blaydes Unimpressed With A ‘Plodder’ Like Rozenstruik

Curtis Blaydes is looking to get back into the win column against fellow heavyweight bruiser Jairzinho Rozenstruik when they collide at the promotion’s upcoming UFC 266 pay-per-view (PPV) event in September.

And it doesn’t sound like “Razor” is overly concerned about the challenge ahead.

“I wasn’t overly impressed with the technique,” Blaydes told LowKick MMA (transcribed by Cole Shelton). “Obviously the power is impressive, but the technique is not. Like watching him, I watched him when he fought (Ciryl) Gane and you could just tell the difference in the speed and fluidity and the technique. Jairzinho is more of your old-school, classic plodder. You go, I go, you go, I go. I don’t find him that explosive, he doesn’t have crazy attacks. It’s pretty basic. But it works for him, he sticks with what he knows. He doesn’t bring a lot of diversity which does make it a little easier to gameplan, but you always have to be aware of the power.”

Blaydes (14-3, 1 NC) is hoping to rebound from his second-round knockout loss to Derrick Lewis back in February. Getting stomped by “The Black Beast” snapped a four-fight win streak for “Razor,” who remains ranked No. 4 at 265 pounds.

As for the 12-2 Rozenstruik, holding steady at No. 6, he was able to blast his way back into the win column with a first-round destruction of Augusto Sakai at UFC Vegas 28 back in June, though “Bigi Boy” is just 2-2 over his last four.

Perhaps history will repeat itself on Sept. 4.

“I think it plays out almost like the Derrick Lewis fight, except without me getting hit with the uppercut,” Blaydes continued. “I think I’m faster than him, I’m longer than him. I’m the better fighter overall. I got the better striking; I think I’m more aggressive. Ill be able to put him on the cage, and pressure him and then he’ll make a mistake and I’ll be able either put him away on the feet or get to his hips and get that first career submission win.”

UFC 266 is expected to be headlined by the light heavyweight title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. Elsewhere on the card, Jessica Andrade and Cynthia Calvillo hook ‘em up at 125 pounds.