UFC heavyweight contenders Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov each made weight on Friday for their main-event clash at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Blaydes (13-2) weighed in at 261 pounds, while Volkov (31-7) tipped the scales at 247. The two were originally scheduled to meet on this June 20 date in Saskatoon, Canada, but the event was ultimately relocated to the UFC’s Apex facility in Las Vegas due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Blaydes, who fights out of Colorado and has won eight of his 10 UFC appearances, has made no secret of his plans on Saturday.
“FYI if y’all were hoping to see a 25 minute stand up war you probably shouldn’t tune in to the main event,” Blaydes wrote on social media. “I fully intend on ragdolling my opponent just figured I’d let y’all know ahead of time.”
Blaydes is a significant betting favorite against Volkov, who fights out of Moscow. His only two losses have both come against heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou.
In the co-main event, featherweights Josh Emmett (15-2) and Shane Burgos (13-1) will look to move up the 145-pound rankings. Each weighed in right at the 146-pound limit.
All fighters scheduled to compete on the card made weight except for lightweight Frank Camacho, who weighed in at 158 pounds, which is 2 pounds over the 156-pound lightweight limit.
Camacho is scheduled to face UFC newcomer Justin Jaynes, who did make weight. Camacho was originally scheduled to face Matt Frevola, but UFC pulled Frevola from the event this week after one of his cornermen/teammates tested positive for COVID-19.
The fight will go on, with Camacho fined 20% of his purse, which will go to Jaynes.