What better endorsement can you ask for as a fighter than one that comes from the current champion in your division? That’s what Curtis Blaydes has going for him ahead of UFC Fight Night 141.

Appearing in a video to promote the rematch between Blaydes and Francis Ngannou, UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier raved about Blaydes’ evolution since his UFC debut loss to Ngannou in April 2016.

“Curtis Blaydes is a new guy,” champ-champ Cormier said. “This is a big, strong, durable wrestler, who is now gaining confidence in his hands. What I’ve seen from Curtis Blaydes is constant evolution and a guy that’s on the cusp of fighting for a UFC championship.”

Those last nine words specifically – “on the cusp of fighting for a UFC championship” – are the ones that resonate strongest with Blaydes (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Pass-streamed main event vs. Ngannou (11-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) from Cadillac Arena in Beijing.

“That’s respect. Real recognizes real,” Blaydes told MMAjunkie on Wednesday. “He knows I’m on the way. I’ve been telling people that for the last eight months, but having him bring it up, it only validates the things I’ve already been saying.”

Since that debut defeat to Ngannou because of a doctor’s stoppage, Blaydes has gone six fights without a loss. He’s won four in a row and most recently scored the biggest victory of his career when he TKO’d Alistair Overeerm – with whom he’s been training since – in June at UFC 225.

All of this has made Blaydes sure of one thing.

“I will get that belt,” he said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s this year or next year or 2020, I will get the belt. It’s inevitable.”

For that to potentially happen sooner than later, Blaydes will have to get past Ngannou, who is reeling from his first two-fight losing streak. Ngannou had won 10 straight and rose to stardom, which came to a screeching halt when he was dominated by then-champion Stipe Miocic in a January title fight at UFC 220. Ngannou followed that up with a lackluster performance in July that resulted in a unanimous-decision loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 226.

Blaydes has said he believes Ngannou is in a “dark place” heading into UFC Fight Night 141. Blaydes plans on using his exceptional wrestling against Ngannou only “if the opportunity presents itself.” He said he won’t try to force it – not with the power Ngannou possesses.

“That’s a good way to get knocked out,” Blaydes said.

But the way Blaydes sees it, he has the edge in some key aspects of the fight that should result in him avenging his only defeat.

“I know he’s not going to be the better wrestler. I know that,” Blaydes said. “I know he’s not going to be the better conditioned athlete. I know that also. And I know he’s probably feeling a bit of pressure since this is his first two-fight skid of his career. So those are the only things I can be pretty sure of.”

Will that be enough to get the job done Saturday?

For more on UFC Fight Night 141, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.