Curtis Blaydes

Curtis 'Razor' Blaydes is one of the best wrestlers in the UFC heavyweight division, a fighter who has spent years near the top of the rankings on the strength of his takedowns and suffocating top control. When Blaydes gets a hold of you, the fight becomes a grind he usually controls.

What stands out about his career is the quality of his losses - they've come almost exclusively against the division's elite, like Francis Ngannou and Tom Aspinall, the kind of power punchers who can end any fight. He even owns a win over Aspinall. His striking has improved steadily, but his wrestling is the foundation everything else is built on. His record sits around 19-5.

For newcomers, Blaydes is a reminder that heavyweight isn't only about knockouts - elite grappling can carry you to the doorstep of a title. He's a perennial contender who has tested himself against the very best the division has to offer.