Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit completed their first official staredown ahead of their scheduled fight at UFC 327. The face-off comes amid Hokit's aggressive trash-talk campaign targeting Blaydes and other fighters. Details about the specific nature of their interaction during the staredown are limited in the post. The fight represents an important matchup in the heavyweight division on the UFC 327 card.
Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit came face to face for the first time on Thursday, completing their first official staredown ahead of their heavyweight bout at UFC 327, scheduled for Saturday, April 11.
Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," enters the fight as the number-four ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a 19-6-0 professional record and presents a formidable physical package at six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. He is one of the division's most persistent offensive wrestlers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and pairs that grappling threat with a striking output of 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Hokit, who fights under the nickname "The Incredible Hok," is undefeated at 5-0-0 and enters this contest as the notable underdog in terms of experience at this level. The 28-year-old has made headlines in the build-up to UFC 327 with an aggressive trash-talk campaign directed at Blaydes and others on the card, bringing an extra charge to Thursday's faceoff.
Why it matters
- Blaydes is a top-five heavyweight and a win for either fighter carries significant divisional weight
- Hokit's unbeaten record and vocal pre-fight campaign have drawn attention to what could otherwise be viewed as a mismatch on paper
- The style matchup pits Blaydes's elite wrestling and volume striking against the unknown qualities of an undefeated prospect stepping up in competition
Saturday, April 11, 2026
