Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hawkit held their first pre-fight staredown ahead of their bout at UFC 327. The face-off represents the beginning of fight week promotional activities for both heavyweights. This marks their initial in-person confrontation as part of the UFC's standard media schedule leading up to the event. The matchup appears to be part of the UFC 327 card, though the specific placement on the card was not mentioned. Further context about the stakes or ranking implications of this fight are limited in this post.
Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hawkit came face to face for the first time Thursday as fight week promotional activities got underway ahead of UFC 327, scheduled for April 11, 2026.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the bout ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 19 wins and 6 losses. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and brings a well-rounded physical profile to the matchup, standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. His grappling output stands out as one of the most prolific in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, while his striking numbers are equally solid at 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute on a 50 percent accuracy rate.
No verified statistical or biographical data is available for Hawkit through the AgentMMA database at this time.
Why it matters
- Blaydes is ranked fourth at heavyweight, meaning a strong performance could push him closer to title contention
- His elite takedown volume gives him a clear path to controlling opponents on the mat
- The staredown signals the beginning of a full media week build for the UFC 327 card
Saturday, April 11, 2026
