Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev Predictions, Picks & Odds

Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev will serve as the only heavyweight bout on the main card of UFC Fight Night in Baku on Saturday, June 21.

The two combatants are set to finally clash after having their initial UFC 313 billing in March canceled due to an illness for Blaydes.

Blaydes comes into the fight as a -260 favorite according to UFC odds, and I expect to see a finish in this bout. I’ll break down the fight and my best bet in my Blaydes vs Kuniev predictions.

Blaydes vs Kuniev prediction and best bet

• My fight prediction: Blaydes moneyline (-260 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet: Fight to not go the distance (-160 at BET99)

Fight analysis
It’s been nearly a year since we last saw Curtis Blaydes in the octagon — an interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 304 that Tom Aspinall ended in just 60 seconds.

"Razor" Blaydes will look to bounce back this weekend against Rizvan Kuniev, who is making his UFC debut.

As with most heavyweight bouts, we’re looking at two guys with bad intentions and the ability to end a fight at any second. Blaydes has finished 13 of his 18 wins via KO/TKO, while Kuniev has five KO/TKO finishes and two submission wins during his current 11-fight unbeaten streak.

The difference here is simply the level of experience and pedigree that each fighter brings. Blaydes, the fifth-ranked heavyweight on the roster, has been fighting top competition in the UFC since 2016 — his debut came against none other than former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Blaydes’ laundry list of experience also includes fights against the aforementioned Aspinall, Sergei Pavlovich, Derrick Lewis, Alexander Volkov, Alistair Overeem, and several other UFC mainstays. And yes, Blaydes has lost two of his last three bouts, but there’s truly no comparison when looking at the quality of competition each fighter has faced.

In the past five years, Kuniev has two KO wins in Dana White’s Contender Series, a few victories in Eagle FC, and a no contest (due to a failed drug test) against Renan Ferreira in the PFL — his most notable opponent to date.

Kuniev is surprisingly nimble for a big man who does not look athletic, but this will be a huge step up in competition for the 33-year-old. His best chance of winning will likely be in the clinch, but Blaydes has the advantage on his feet as well as on the ground. 

Aspinall himself admitted that Blaydes’ 80-inch reach gave him problems (for all 60 seconds of their fight), while Blaydes is also one of the few heavyweights who poses a genuine wrestling threat.

There are real concerns about Blaydes’ chin, but Kuniev is simply too unproven, and I expect the UFC veteran to get the job done.

Best bet analysis
You could probably bet on every heavyweight tilt to finish inside the distance and do pretty well. I’ll be taking that same approach for Blaydes vs. Kuniev as I expect this fight to end with a knockout.

Blaydes’ last five fights have each ended with a knockout, win or lose, while just two of his last 10 bouts have gone to a decision. Kuniev has finished seven of his last nine fights, with just two going to the judges’ scorecards.

Blaydes would be my first choice to score a finish, but he’s taken plenty of heavy shots over his 10-year pro career while suffering five KO defeats, including two in the past 26 months.

Kuniev is a live dog, and at -160, we’re getting great odds for this bout to finish inside the distance.

Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev odds

Method of Victory	Blaydes	Kuniev
To win outright	-260	+195
To win by KO/TKO/DQ	+120	+550
To win by decision or technical decision	+215	+575
To win by submission	+2100	+1200
Draw	+2500	+2500

Odds as of 6-19.

Bet on the UFC at BET99!

One of Canada's best sportsbooks for UFC betting, join BET99 and get up to $1,000 bonus bets back if your first bet doesn’t win when using our BET99 promo code COVERSBONUS!

Sign Up Now at 

^{*Not available in Ontario}

Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev tale of the tape

Pages related to this topic