LAS VEGAS – Rizvan Kuniev is still adamant that he did not lose his UFC debut, so much so that he’s willing to prove it in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes.
Kuniev (14-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) debuted for the UFC this past June and lost a split decision to Blaydes in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was a highly debated decision that had many online split on who the rightful winner was. Now back in the win column after outpointing Jailton Almeida at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 266, Kuniev wants to run things back with Blaydes and avenge that defeat.
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“I’m ready for anybody the organization give me. Anybody the promotion offers me, I’ll take them. But most importantly, I would love to fight Curtis Blaydes,” Kuniev told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC Fight Night 266 post-fight press conference. “The reason being is because we have sort of a history between us. He thinks he won the last fight. I think I might’ve won the last fight. So I think that we need another matchup, another fight, to figure out who’s better because I don’t think that one was decisive.”
Kuniev has had a tough start in the UFC. He’s fought two highly ranked heavyweights in his first two fights in the UFC. Although he got a win over a top-10 heavyweight by beating Almeida (22-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Kuniev is not fully happy with his victory.
“Not super excited about the victory because I wasn’t able to show an exciting fight, but I’d give myself about a C,” Kuniev said.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Rizvan Kuniev wants to avenge controversial loss to Curtis Blaydes
