Blaydes: It'd be 'childish' to get upset about potential Jones title shot
There's a new player in the UFC heavyweight division, and top contender Curtis Blaydes is excited about it.
Jon Jones vacated the light heavyweight belt in August to pursue a run in the heavier weight class. UFC president Dana White has already said Jones could get an immediate title shot - after a planned rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou - but Blaydes isn't worried about the former titleholder potentially skipping the line.
"Another exciting potential future matchup," Blaydes told theScore when asked what he thought of Jones' decision to move up to heavyweight. "It opens up the door to potentially beat a guy like Jon Jones. You beat him, you're pretty much a GOAT. I think it's cool. It adds a lot of eyes to the division, a lot more interest, which is always good. Anything involving Jon Jones in MMA is usually good."
Blaydes, who's scheduled to meet Derrick Lewis in the Nov. 28 main event, has been in this position before. As someone who was nearing a title shot, "Razor" was frustrated when the UFC penciled in Brock Lesnar as Daniel Cormier's first title challenger in 2018. Lesnar had spent two years away from the sport in favor of WWE and had failed a drug test.
Two years later, Blaydes is ranked No. 3 in the division and has won four straight fights, yet he'll likely have to wait longer to get a crack at the belt because of Jones. But this time, the 29-year-old feels much differently about the situation.
"I know how it is. It's a business," Blaydes said. "Jon Jones puts asses in seats. I'm not gonna get upset about it because that would be childish. ... It doesn't make me mad or anything."
Blaydes added he was particularly upset about Lesnar's potential title shot - which didn't come to fruition - because he doesn't like him "as a person" and believes he's a "cheater."
"That was my first taste of the unpredictability of this job, of this sport, and I learned a lot," Blaydes said.
Blaydes believes he would deserve to fight for the title if he beats Lewis, but he also realizes that doesn't count for much.
"I'm not really gonna worry about it," Blaydes said. "They could tell me one thing and (take it back) because it's not in the contracts. So it really doesn't matter. I just want to win and earn another paycheck and hold my ranking. I know eventually it will be my turn. As long as I don't lose, I'll get my crack at it."
No opponent in the division interests Blaydes after Lewis, but the Illinois native said he plans to stay active after the fight regardless.
"I'm not gonna just not earn paychecks for months," Blaydes said. "We don't get paid that much. This ain't the NFL. We can't afford to be out for too long. I would just fight somebody. I'm trying to pad my stats, crack (Georges St-Pierre)'s takedown record, and eventually get my title shot. I'm only 29. I'm gonna be here. I ain't going nowhere. I got eight more years at the minimum."