Curtis Blaydes doesn’t think the heavyweight division is the right fit for Chris Daukaus.
After sharing the octagon in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 33 main event at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) is convinced a drop down to light heavyweight would be the best career move for Daukaus (12-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who has now lost back-to-back fights following a second-round TKO defeat.
“I think honestly, no shade, he should probably drop down to light heavyweight,” Blaydes told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC on ESPN 33. “Not everyone’s a heavyweight. It’s OK. Just cause you weigh 245 does not mean you’re a heavyweight, so he should drop down.”
Daukaus opened his UFC career with a lot of momentum, finishing his first four opponents inside the distance. He got elevated to the main event scene, and it’s came with poor results as he’s been finished by Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.
Blaydes thinks there’s going to be more struggles ahead if Daukaus keeps fighting the upper tier heavyweights. However, he thinks there’s a good chance the skillset of Daukaus would line up better fighting opponents at 205 pounds.
“I don’t think (he can beat the best heavyweights),” Blaydes said. “And that’s no shade. He’s skilled, but you have to be big, and you have to be strong. That’s like a pre-requisite. That’s like a flyweight that’s not fast. You can’t. That doesn’t work.”
Curtis Blaydes advises Chris Daukaus to drop to 205 pounds: ‘Not everyone’s a heavyweight’
