Curtis Blaydes has signed a new contract with the UFC covering eight fights. The deal begins with his upcoming bout against Waldo Cortez-Acosta at UFC Noche.
Curtis Blaydes has locked in his future with the UFC, signing a new eight-fight contract that will keep the heavyweight contender in the promotion for the foreseeable future. The deal gets underway immediately, with Blaydes set to open the agreement against Waldo Cortez-Acosta at UFC Noche.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the bout ranked seventh in the heavyweight division. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a professional record of 19-6 and has long established himself as one of the more dangerous wrestlers in the 265-pound weight class. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he is a physical presence in any matchup. His wrestling output is among the highest in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he backs it up with respectable striking volume at 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute on 50 percent accuracy.
Cortez-Acosta does not appear in the verified fighter database, so detailed statistics on the challenger are not available at this time.
Why it matters
- An eight-fight deal signals the UFC views Blaydes as a long-term heavyweight fixture, not a short-term roster piece.
- At rank seven, Blaydes is within reach of title contention, and a strong run through this contract could put him back in the championship conversation.
- His elite takedown rate sets up a compelling style contrast against virtually any opponent, making each fight on the new deal a meaningful test of his path forward.
