Curtis Blaydes suffers orbital and nose fractures at UFC 327

Curtis Blaydes walked out of a Miami hospital with an orbital bone fracture and a broken nose after competing at UFC 327 on April 11, leaving his immediate future uncertain with no timetable yet set for his return to competition.

Blaydes, known as "Razor," is ranked fourth in the heavyweight division and carries a professional record of 19-6-0. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team in Colorado, where he will now head to begin his recovery. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes has long been regarded as one of the more well-rounded big men in the division. He averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most persistent grapplers at heavyweight, and lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate — a combination that has kept him competitive against elite opposition throughout his career.

The facial injuries were sustained during what was described as a competitive heavyweight bout, though no additional details about the circumstances have been confirmed.

Why it matters

• Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning his recovery period could directly affect divisional matchmaking at the top of the 265-pound class.
• A prolonged absence would sideline one of the division's most active takedown threats at a time when the heavyweight picture remains unsettled.
• The severity of orbital and nasal fractures typically requires a medical suspension period, though the UFC has not yet indicated how long Blaydes will be sidelined.