UFC on ABC 8: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev Prediction for Tomorrow, 06/21/25

The fourth fight on the Main Card at UFC on ABC 8 will see Curtis Blaydes take on Rizvan Kuniev. This will be a fight in the UFC Heavyweight division. Blaydes enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-5 and 13-5 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.54 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 50%. Blaydes is absorbing 1.91 strikes and has a striking defense of 58%. His grappling has been elite throughout his UFC career, averaging 5.69 takedowns every 15 minutes. Blaydes has a takedown accuracy of 53% and a takedown defense of 31%.

Rizvan enters this fight with an MMA record of 12-2-1 and 2-0 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.82 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 72%. Rizvan is absorbing 1.25 strikes and has a striking defense of 55%. His grappling has been strong throughout his UFC career, averaging 2.82 takedowns every 15 minutes. Rizvan has a takedown accuracy of 75% and a takedown defense of 100%.

With Blaydes set as the heavy favorite, we are going to target this fight to end inside the distance. Blaydes has seen each of his 5 UFC fights end inside the distance, while Rizvan has seen both of his UFC fights do the same. With both fighters having posted a high finish rate recently, backing this fight to end inside the distance will be our lean.