Curtis Blaydes suffers orbital and nose fractures at UFC 327

Curtis Blaydes walked away from UFC 327 in Miami with significant facial injuries, having sustained a broken orbital bone and a broken nose during his bout at the April 11 event. MMA reporter Mike Bohn confirmed the injuries following Blaydes' medical evaluation at a local hospital, after which the heavyweight contender was cleared to travel home to Colorado to begin his recovery.

Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," enters the injury report as one of the more accomplished heavyweights in the UFC roster. The 35-year-old American carries a professional record of 19-6 and is currently ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, the six-foot-four, 193 cm orthodox striker brings an 80-inch reach to every contest and has built his reputation largely on a relentless wrestling game, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also lands strikes at a rate of 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him a threat in multiple phases of a fight.

Why it matters

• Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning any extended recovery could affect his positioning in a division where title contendership is fiercely contested.
• Orbital and nasal fractures typically require a medical suspension that can sideline a fighter for several months, potentially disrupting upcoming matchmaking plans.
• At 35, recovery timelines carry added weight, though Blaydes has shown durability across a lengthy career at the sport's highest level.

The full details of the bout itself, including the outcome and his opponent, were not part of the confirmed reporting.