to the doctor's advice. The replay, however, showed the strike did not deliver significant damage (as it only grazed the ear), and the fight was ruled a win for Blaydes. Blaydes faced Mark Hunt on February 11, 2018, at UFC 221. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Blaydes faced Alistair Overeem on June 9, 2018, at UFC 225. He won the fight via TKO due to elbows in the third round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus. Blaydes faced Francis Ngannou in a rematch on November 24, 2018, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 141 He lost the fight via TKO early into the first round. Blaydes faced Justin Willis on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 148. Blaydes continually took Willis down, scoring multiple takedowns and knocking down Willis in the second round winning the fight via unanimous decision. Blaydes faced Shamil Abdurakhimov on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight via TKO in the second round. Blaydes faced Junior dos Santos on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. Blaydes faced Alexander Volkov on June 20, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov. He won the fight via unanimous decision (49–46, 48–47, and 48–46). Blaydes was scheduled to face Derrick Lewis on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis. However, he tested positive for coronavirus and thus, the bout was scrapped. The pair was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 185 on February 20, 2021. Blaydes lost the fight via knockout in the second round. He became a free agent after fighting out his contract, and signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC in May. Blaydes faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on September 25, 2021, at UFC 266. Blaydes won the fight via unanimous decision. Blaydes faced Chris Daukaus on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33. He won the fight via TKO early in the second round. The win also earned him the Performance of the Night award. Blaydes faced Tom Aspinall on July 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208. Blaydes won the fight via TKO after Aspinall suffered a knee injury and was unable to defend himself in the opening minute of the fight. Blayde is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night