Curtis Blaydes is happy the UFC is "finally getting irritated" by heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic's refusal to fight during the coronavirus pandemic.
Miocic said in April he's not interested in competing amid the crisis because his Ohio gym is closed. UFC president Dana White has grown impatient with Miocic and wants the division to move on.
"We all know what he's doing," Blaydes told theScore's James Lynch on Monday, adding that he believes Miocic could find a way to train if he wanted to.
Blaydes said Miocic - who was reportedly targeted to fight Daniel Cormier in August before the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the UFC's schedule - is choosing to sit on the sidelines because he doesn't need to fight. Miocic also serves as a part-time firefighter in Ohio.
"He's getting all the exclusive sponsorships and endorsements that you get when you have the belt," Blaydes said. "So in his eyes, he's like, 'I don't have to fight. I got the belt. I'll wait. I'm still getting paid.'"
Though the No. 3 heavyweight contender understands the logic of Miocic's position, he can't help but feel frustrated as someone who's chasing a title shot himself.
"If it ever got stagnant like this back when he didn't have the belt, he'd probably be pissed off, because that delays your time to get a title shot," Blaydes said. "That's what he's doing to us. He's dragging ass because he knows he doesn't have to fight. And the less he fights, the less risk he has of him getting beat."
Miocic, who most recently stepped into the Octagon in August, tweeted Monday that his team is in talks with the UFC about potential dates for a trilogy fight with Cormier. He also said his team is working to secure a training location so he can begin to prepare sooner than expected.
Watch Blaydes' full interview below:
