UFC 266: Blaydes vs. Rozenstruik betting odds, preview, and pick

Curtis Blaydes and Jairzinho Rozenstruik will face off in a bout with future title implications at UFC 266, which is set for Sept. 25 in Las Vegas.

This high-drama fight can deliver an explosive finish for either man, so we're here to guide you, with a preview and pick before the bombs fly.

Is Blaydes’ chin a liability against the limited Rozenstruik?

Blaydes was on his way to a heavyweight title shot when he was handling Derrick Lewis, but Lewis found an opening and practically left Blaydes dead in March. It was the second lights-out knockout Blaydes has suffered, and he can’t seem to keep it together against devastating punchers.

Blaydes is a tremendous wrestler and a monster on the mat. He is extremely mobile and does not need to work too hard to take his opponents down.

But like Lewis, Rozenstruik’s best chance is to test Blaydes’ chin. Unfortunately for the Surinamese fighter, he is nowhere near as explosive or as powerful as Lewis.

Rozenstruik cannot take another big loss

Though he is a top 10 heavyweight, Rozenstruik has failed to impress under the bright lights of the division.

His last fight was a blowout win over Augusto Sakai in June, but his ghastly performances in losses against Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou show he is still as raw as they come.

Two losses against eventual champions isn't that big of a deal, but a fighter can only lose so comprehensively so many times.

If there is any fight for Rozenstruik’s career that requires a heightened sense of urgency, it has to be this one.

Blaydes will get back on track with a stoppage

Unless Blaydes makes the same tactical mistake, leaves his guard down, and squares up to Rozenstruik, he has an opponent he can wipe out in short order. Rozenstruik’s ground defense has never been tested against someone like Blaydes, who is both taller and larger.

While Rozenstruik has rescued himself from defeat with a one-hitter quitter in the past, Blaydes is a top heavyweight who is still close enough to his prime where he knows when to engage and when to back off.

There won’t be any dramatics in this one. Blaydes is too strong and athletic for Rozenstruik. He’ll smother Rozenstruik with his wrestling and rain down uncontested shot after shot. Blaydes will win inside the distance via ground and pound.

UFC pick: Blaydes