UFC: Dana White calls Curtis Blaydes ‘stupid’ and has the ‘wrong attitude’ after win over Alexander Volkov

UFC president White says heavyweight Blaydes ‘talked a lot of s***’ ahead of the fight but did not ‘back it up’

Blaydes’ calls for title shot after unanimous decision win – ‘who else is there?’

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UFC president Dana White watches heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov at the weigh-in for UFC Fight Night at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas. Photo: USA Today Sports

Published: 7:45pm, 21 Jun 2020Updated: 7:45pm, 21 Jun 2020

Dana White said heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes is “stupid” and has the “wrong attitude” despite his unanimous decision win against Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.

American Blaydes (14-2, one no contest) had vowed to “rag doll” his Russian opponent leading up to the fight – warning fans of a wrestling-heavy main event at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas – but his performance clearly irked the UFC president.

“He talked a lot of s*** coming into this week. I don't think you talk the s*** he talked and come in and perform like that, talking about ragdolling people, not getting paid enough and that he should be getting a title shot,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “He gassed out at the end of the third round, made it to the fifth, and won the fight.”

The 29-year-old “Razor” Blaydes is now on a four-fight win streak having successfully taken Volkov down 14 times to earn the victory. He has two losses on his record, both to number one heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou.

While White agreed that Blaydes is “next in line” after Ngannou's title shot – likely against the winner of champion Stipe Miocic vs former champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 in August – there is a lot of work to be done.

“First of all, he has two losses to Francis. How do you give him the title fight over Francis?” White said. “With his performance tonight with his cardio, I wouldn't wait around if I was him, I'd stay active.