Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ABC 8

USA Today

21-06-2025

Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 8 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 5-1
UFC main cards, 2025: 57-44-1
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev UFC Baku preview
Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) aims to rebound from an interim title challenge loss against Tom Aspinall last July. In the fight prior, "Razor" stopped Jailton Almeida in the second round with ground and pound, earning his fourth career Performance of the Night bonus. Throughout his entire career, Blaydes has never lost back-to-back fights. ... Kuniev (13-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut against one of the toughest tests in the division. After a first-round finish in his second appearance on Dana White's Contender Series in August, Kuniev gets an opportunity to prove himself under the UFC's bright lights.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev UFC Baku expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is a fight that the UFC has been trying to put together for some time now between Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev.
Despite Kuniev being brand new to the division, he's being matched up with one of the top-ranked perennial contenders in Blaydes.
Kuniev's best win is an overturned no-contest to Renan Ferreira, where the Sanda fighter showed some grappling chops from both positive and negative positions. That said, Kuniev will likely have a harder time getting that kind of game going against a fighter who can both match him in size and wrestling.
Blaydes has seemingly abandoned his wrestling faster than Daniel Plainview abandoned his son in recent years, but that doesn't change the fact that he's one of a literal handful of heavyweights who can actually wrestle, which counts for a lot.
I'm not picking this fight as confidently as I should be, but the pick is for Blaydes to stay safe and secure a win by unanimous decision.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev UFC Baku odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the American, listing Blaydes -260 and Kuniev +205 via FanDuel.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev UFC Baku start time, how to watch
Blaydes and Kuniev are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 4:35 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.