Haquit defeats Blaydes but faces risks against Pereira or Pavlovich

Josh Haquit defeated Curtis Blaydes but absorbed significant damage in the process. While Haquit's striking power has improved under Winkeljohn's coaching and he showed strong takedown defense, his brawling style that involves taking many shots could lead to a knockout loss against elite strikers like Alex Pereira or Sergei Pavlovich. The analyst notes that Haquit's aggressive, finger-pointing persona played well before Trump and Dana White at the event. Despite concerns about Haquit's defensive vulnerabilities, his power remained consistent even in the exhausting third round, and he effectively used elbows. A potential matchup with Derrick Lewis is mentioned, though there are concerns Lewis may prioritize money and avoiding damage over pursuing victory.