Curtis Blaydes offers to step in at Craig Jones Invitational just days after KO loss to Tom Aspinall at UFC 304: “If y’all need a big boy"
Curtis Blaydes suffered a first-round knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in the co-main event of UFC 304 on 27 July. But the heavyweight contender doesn't appear to be suffering from any concussion symptoms as he recently volunteered to replace a competitor at the upcoming Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), a grappling competition.
The CJI is scheduled to take place on 16-17 Aug. and will consist of two super fights and two weight divisions: +80KG and -80KG. Last week, Jones announced that talented grappler Mason Fowler, who was set to compete in the +80KG division, had withdrawn from the competition.
The Australian grappler did not give a specific reason during his Instagram post, but one day after losing to Aspinall, Blaydes took to the comment section to offer himself as a replacement.
Jones took to Instagram and said this:
"Authorities have surfaced a new body in a barrell, that body is Mason Fowler. Mason Fowler is out of the CJI."
Watch Craig Jones' video below:
The former UFC heavyweight title contender took to the comment section and wrote this:
"I'd love to come out and grapple if y'all need a big boy."
Jones replied with:
"You want it you got it bro."
'Razor' then wrote:
"Lemme know what forms or registration paperwork I need to get done and when and I'm there."
Tom Aspinall rolls eyes at early-stoppage claims after KO win over Curtis Blaydes
Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall faced off in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.
The pair had previously fought in the main event of UFC London in 2022, where Aspinall suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into Round 1, and the fight was stopped.
Their rematch, too, ended quickly, but this time with a more definitive result. The interim champion defended his belt after knocking out Razor in one minute of Round 1.
Following the bout, there were claims that the fight was stopped prematurely, and the Mancunian has now slammed those suggestions, saying this:
"What kind of idiot is saying that? Like, I dropped him with a one, two. He's face down on the canvas, I've got 250 pounds on his back, and I'm landing seven, eight unanswered shots. Like, where's he gonna go? Do you know what I mean?"
Watch Tom Aspinall discuss his finish of Curtis Blaydes below: