Breakdown: UFC: Blaydes vs Lewis

 Breakdown: UFC: Blaydes vs Lewis

Blaydes vs Lewis: Heavyweight

Blaydes(-345), MMA Record: 14-2 1NC, UFC Record: 9-2 1NC. Age: 29, Height: 6'4, Reach: 80 Inches, Current Streak: Four Wins:

Curtis Blaydes goes for his fifth straight win in hopes to finally get that elusive Heavyweight title shot. The game plan will most likely be the same it has been throughout his career and that is taking his opponents down and smashing them. Blaydes has the most total takedowns in UFC Heavyweight history with 59 of them. He also has the most total control time at 1:13:28 and the most total time in top position with 59:44. If Blaydes is smart he will take the path of least resistance and not get into a striking battle with Lewis. A win this weekend would but him into great position to fight to fight the winner of Stipe/Francis, granted that Jon Jones does not throw a monkey wrench into that equation. Grades: Striking=8.5/10, Grappling/Ground Game=9.25/10

*IMPORTANT STATS: 55% Takedown Accuracy, 6.98 Takedowns per 15 Minutes, 3.55 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 1.73 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute

NOTABLE WINS: Alexander Volkov(UD), JDS(TKO), Shamil Abdurakhimov(TKO), Alistair Overeem(TKO), Mark Hunt(UD), Alexey Oleninik(TKO)

Lewis(+295), MMA Record: 24-7 1NC, UFC Record: 15-5, Age: 35, Height: 6'3, Reach: 79 Inches, Current Streak: Three Wins:

One dimensional fighters have been getting phased out slowly through the last decade in the UFC. Fighter nowadays have to have some skills in all different aspects of the game. Derrick is last of the Mohicans. A big power puncher with a sneaky good flying knee, Lewis has little to no ground game and it does not look like anytime soon he is going to get his black belt. He does have an odd ability to just stand up out of nowhere in bad positions. All it takes is one punch from him and the fight is over just like that. He could be losing for twenty minute and land one bomb and get the win. A win would bring him right to the top of the division and another crack at that Heavyweight belt. Grades: Striking=9/10, Grappling/Ground Game=8.25/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 52% Takedown Defense, 2.64 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 50% Striking Accuracy, 2.09 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute

NOTABLE WINS: Alexey Oleinik(TKO), Illir Latifi(UD), Blagoy Ivanov(SD), Alexander Volkov(TKO), Francis N'Gannou(UD), Marcin Tybura(TKO), Travis Browne(TKO), Shamil Abdurakhimov(TKO), Roy Nelson(SD), Gabriel Gonzaga(KO), Jared Rosholt(TKO)

Smith vs Clark: 205lb

Smith(-130), MMA Record: 33-16, UFC Record: 8-5, Age: 32, Height: 6'4, Reach: 76 Inches, Current Streak: Two Losses:

Anthony Smith looks to get back into the win column this weekend. He has a pretty well rounded game, with the ability to finish the fight on the feet or on the ground. My big question going into this for him is that he did not take a lot of time off in between losses and has looked a little bit shell shocked in the cage recently. He is approaching fifty pro fights and one does have to wonder the toll that it has taken on his mind and body. A win this Saturday would put Smith back into a good position in the now wide open Light Heavyweight division. Grades: Striking=8.75/10, Grappling/Ground Game=8.75/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 51% Takedown Defense, 2.97 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 46% Striking Accuracy, 42% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: Alexander Gustafsson(SUB), Volkan Oezdemir(SUB), Shogun Rua(TKO), Rashad Evans(TKO), Hector Lombard(TKO), Josh Neer(TKO)

Clark(+110), MMA Record: 12-4, UFC Record: 6-4, Age: 30, Height: 6', Reach: 75 Inches, Current Streak: Two Wins:

Clark has one quietly been fighting some the best in the division over his UFC career. He is currently in the middle of his longest winning streak in his UFC career and looks to jump into the top 15 rankings after this fight. A takedown heavy style is his bread and butter. He averages about 2.76 takedown per 15 minutes and grind out decision victories. This win would easily be the biggest of his career thus far and if done in an exciting fashion, could make him one to watch out for at 205lbs. Grades: Striking=8.25, Grappling/Ground Game=8.5/10 

IMPORTANT STATS: 2.76 Takedown per 15 Minutes, 36% Takedown Accuracy, 3.4 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 57% Striking Accuracy

NOTABLE WINS: Alonzo Menifield(UD), Dequan Townsend(UD), Darko Stosic(UD), Mike Rodriguez(UD)

Baeza vs Sato: 170lb

Baeza(-180), MMA Record: 9-0, UFC Record: 2-0, Age: 28, Height: 6'2, Reach: 74.5 Inches, Current Streak: Fourteen Wins:

The only undefeated fighter on the card look to keep that zero in the loss column this weekend. Baeza is a big man for someone at 170lbs and he has big time power to go with that size. He has knockout seven of his opponents for a finishing rate of 78%. He is also no slouch of the ground either. He is a black belt in BJJ and has a 100% takedown defense thus far in his UFC career. I'm excited to see what he can bring to this fight and the bright future that he has in front of him. Grades: Striking=8.75/10, Grappling/Ground Game=8.5/10 

IMPORTANT STATS: 100% Takedown Defense, 4.78 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 56% Striking Accuracy, 4.67 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute

NOTABLE WINS: Matt Brown(KO)

Sato(+145), MMA Record: 16-3, UFC Record: 2-1, Age: 30, Height: 5'10, Reach: 73 Inches, Current Streak: One Win:

Japan has been looking for a star in MMA for awhile. Sato might be the right guy for the job. A striker with heavy power in his hands has been showing them off in his short UFC career. His last fight he won in 48 seconds as he landed a nasty one-two on his opponent for the KO victory. Another fighter that is stronger than he looks, Sato will look to keep this fight standing and get another finish. A win this weekend could see him get into the top 15 rankings at Welterweight. Grades: Striking=8.75/10, Grappling/Ground Game: 8.25/10 

IMPORTANT STATS: 80% Takedown Defense, 3.94 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 5.1 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute, 51% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: Jason Witt(KO), Ben Saunders(TKO)

Under the Radar Fights:

Bill Algeo(+145) vs Spike Carlyle(-165): 145lbs

Su Mudaeroi(-335) vs Malcom Gordon(+265): 135lbs

Nate Maness(-105) vs Luke Sanders(-120): 135lbs

Ashlee Evans-Smith(-105) vs Norma Dumont(-115): 135lbs

*All stats come from http://www.ufcstats.com/event-details/992c82450d96f726.