Perennial contender Curtis Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) may soon get the title shot he’s long sought following a vicious second-round finish of fellow heavyweight Chris Daukaus (12-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC).

The bout served as the headliner of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 33 event, which aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+ from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio

Daukaus was aggressive at the start of the fight, showing quick hands in the boxing game, though Blaydes connected with a big right in the early going, as well. As the round wore on, Blaydes started to establish a rhythm with a stiff jab while also kicking at the legs, as well. Surprisingly, the round played out completely on the feet, marred only by a Blaydes thumb that raked across Daukaus’ right eye at the close of the round.

As the second round opened, Blaydes again came out looking to strike, and he landed a huge right hand that sent Daukaus crashing to the canvas. Blaydes hopped on top and delivered several crushing punches and elbows, forcing referee Herb Dean to wave off the fight just 17 seconds into the frame.

Typically known for a wrestling-heavy attack, Blaydes said it was the threat of the takedown that allowed him to instead focus on his striking.

“I wanted to put out a statement,” Blaydes said. “I know everyone in here, including Chris Daukaus, his corner, everyone at home, was expecting the shot. That slows you down. You’re waiting for me to shoot. You’re not looking to strike. I’m looking to do both. 

“He wasn’t looking to wrestle. He wasn’t looking to move. I saw the opportunity, and it worked.”

With UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou currently healing from knee surgery, Blaydes called for his next fight to be for an interim title against former interim champion Ciryl Gane.

“I think I deserve an interim title shot against Gane,” Blaydes said. “I want next. I want the title shot. We can do it anytime this summer – June, July, August, I’m down.”

In the night’s co-main event, Mexico’s Alexa Grasso (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) picked up an impressive submission win over Scotland’s Joanne Wood (15-8 MMA, 7-8 UFC).

While the two strikers engaged quickly to start the fight, it would end up being Grasso’s grappling that earned her the fight. Following a spinning attack from Wood, Grasso was able to wrap the body and drag the fight to the floor, where she immediately scrambled to the back. Once there, Grasso attacked with a rear-naked choke, deftly switching the choking arm as Wood looked to defend and working in a tight squeeze. Wood was forced to tap at the 3:57 mark of the opening frame.

After the win, Grasso said the finish played out exactly as she envisioned it.

“I worked this hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times,” Grasso said. “I knew that she was very, very aggressive on the striking, but she does those spinning things, so yeah, I wanted to do it exactly that way.”

In additional notable action, Bryan Barberena (17-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) outbrawled Ohio’s own Matt Brown (23-19 MMA, 16-13 UFC), taking home a split-decision win in a welterweight clash that may find its way on to some “Fight of the Year” lists nine months from now.

Additionally, Kai Kara-France (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) may very well have secured himself a future title shot by taking out a previously unbeaten Askar Askarov (14-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) in a gritty three-round affair. Kara-France dropped the opening round but battled back to claim the final two on all three judges’ cards, earning him a unanimous decision.

Complete UFC on ESPN 33 results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

• Curtis Blaydes def. Chris Daukaus via TKO (punches, elbows) – Round 2, 0:17
• Alexa Grasso def. Joanne Wood via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:57
• Bryan Barberena def. Matt Brown via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Kai Kara-France def. Askar Askarov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Neil Magny def. Max Griffin split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Marc Diakiese def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

• Sara McMann def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Chris Gutierrez def. Danaa Batgerel via TKO (spinning backfist, elbows) – Round 2, 2:34
• Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Denis Tiuliulin via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:58
• Manon Fiorot def. Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Matheus Nicolau def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Luis Saldana def. Bruno Souza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)