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RALEIGH, N.C. – Curtis Blaydes thinks it’s in the best interest of the “murky” UFC heavyweight division for Stipe Miocic to emerge from his expected trilogy bout against Daniel Cormier with his status as champion in tact.

After a two-fight series in which they traded the UFC belt, Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) are set to have one final meeting sometime this year. Cormier has vowed that, win or lose, it will be his MMA retirement fight. Meaning if he wins, he will give up the title and leave the position vacant.

That could be good news for someone like Blaydes (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who meets former UFC titleholder Junior Dos Santos in a main event matchup on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 24. It’s a key fight for the weight class, and Blaydes already has said he thinks a win could get him a crack at the gold.

But but if Cormier defeats Miocic, he anticipates a negative impact.

“If DC wins it again, he’s gonna milk it,” Blaydes told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “He might still retire, but he’s not going to do it immediately. He don’t want to immediately leave the spotlight. You don’t just drop it and drift off in the sunset. (If) he wins that belt again, he’s going to do the whole tour. I think it would be worse.

“DC’s got the greatest chance to be beat him. He’s done it once before, and he can do it again, but if you’re asking me would I prefer to keep the division moving more fluid? I think that Stipe is a lot more open to just being active.”

Blaydes’ theory runs deeper. Cormier might claim the next fight will be his last, but money and opportunity have significant influence. Cormier with the title back around his waist is a money maker for the UFC, and he’s a key ingredient to marquee fights.

“If DC wins it, maybe he starts to hold the Jon Jones thing again,” Blaydes said. “Like, ‘Oh, bump up to heavyweight.’ Then him and Jon are going back. I don’t want to be sitting just waiting for those, because that’s what I’ll do. And I get it: It’s his belt. If he gets it he can do what he wants with it, but it doesn’t help me.

“I’m in the prime of my career. I need to keep stuff moving.”

Blaydes will try to do his part when he meets Dos Santos at UFC on ESPN+ 24, which takes place at PNC Arena and streams on ESPN+.

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