The matchup between Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev on Saturday, June 21, 2025 promises excitement in the heavyweight division. Blaydes is almost always good for fireworks, win or lose, while Kuniev is set to make his debut in UFC after a promising start to his professional career. Here, I break down this heavyweight matchup and bring you my Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev prediction.
Our Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev Pick
- Pick: Curtis Blaydes by knockout
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
- Bonus Bets For This Fight: Use BetMGM promo code ATSBONUS to get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet doesn’t win.
Tale of the Tape
| Curtis Blaydes | Rizvan Kuniev | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 34 | 33 |
| Reach | 80″ | 76″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 18‑5‑0 (1 NC) | 12‑2‑1 (1 NC) |
Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev Preview
Blaydes remains a top contender in the UFC heavyweight ranks, ranked fifth in the division that has become mostly stagnant at the top thanks to the antics of Jon Jones. Known for his devastating striking, he has 13 knockout wins in his career, but is susceptible to getting put down early as well. His recent loss to Tom Aspinall came via a first-round KO in his last outing. But Blaydes is more than capable of bouncing back with some knockout shots of his own.
Kuniev is making his UFC debut after building a 12‑2‑1 record in Russia and DWCS. With six KOs and two submissions, he finishes 50% of his fights by knockout. He earned his UFC spot via a TKO over Hugo Cunha in DWCS in August of 2024. His striking output and aggression are significant, landing 5.82 significant strikes per minute with 78% accuracy. His ability to land shots under heavy pressure will be tested in this debut with the top promotion in MMA, though.
Betting Insights
- Moneyline odds from BetMGM have Blaydes as a -250 favorite and Kuniev at +200.
- Prop markets: This fight is -165 to end inside the distance, while the fight going the distance is +120.
- A knockout is the most likely outcome for the fight at -125, while a decision is +120 and a submission win for either fighter is +700.
Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev Prediction
Blaydes’ chin and gas tank are the keys to this fight. He will look to close distance early and land heavy shots. But Blaydes is always susceptible to gassing out and falling apart if he does not land the knockout blows that he is known for. I think Blaydes will get his knockout punch in, though, as he takes on a fighter who has yet to face a fighter of Blaydes’ caliber on this big a stage before.
While Kuniev could have a bright future ahead of him in UFC, he is going to get off to a rocky start. Take Blaydes to win this fight and consider betting on the fight ending by knockout, as the winner will likely get the job done by landing a big shot that earns the stoppage.
