Petrino calls out No. 7 Blaydes for UFC 335 after four-fight heavyweight streak

Vitor Petrino has issued a direct public challenge to Curtis Blaydes, targeting a heavyweight showdown at UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas. The No. 9-ranked Brazilian says he has already spoken to the UFC and considers his side of the negotiation done — the only missing piece is a response from the No. 7-ranked American.

“Curtis, I’m waiting for you. We’re both coming off wins, we’re close to each other in the rankings, and this is the fight that makes sense right now,” Petrino said. “I’ve already talked to the UFC, and as far as I’m concerned, everything is settled. I want to fight on December 12 in Las Vegas. Now it’s up to you to accept the fight. I respect your history, but I want your spot in the rankings. If you think you’re going to stay ahead of me, accept the fight and we’ll settle it inside the Octagon.”

The 29-year-old from Minas Gerais has built serious momentum since moving up from light heavyweight. Petrino has won four consecutive fights at heavyweight, defeating Austen Lane, Thomas Petersen, Steven Asplund, and most recently Serghei Spivac in August — a result that pushed him into the division’s top ten and set the stage for a step up in competition.

Blaydes, meanwhile, is also riding a win, having defeated Waldo Cortes-Acosta on September 12. The American carries a professional record of 20 wins and six losses, with 13 of those victories coming by knockout, making him one of the more dangerous finishers in the heavyweight division.

With both fighters coming off victories and separated by just two spots in the rankings, the matchup has a logical case behind it. Petrino’s camp at CMSystem has framed the callout as a ranking move as much as a personal challenge, with the Brazilian openly stating he wants Blaydes’s position in the hierarchy.

Whether Blaydes accepts remains to be seen, but Petrino has made his intentions clear ahead of what would be a significant late-2026 card in Las Vegas.