Curtis Blaydes characterized his upcoming fight against Josh Hokit as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and someone with a much broader skill set. Blaydes confidently stated that he is the fighter with multiple skills in this pairing. He noted that he expects Hokit to come out aggressive and apply pressure from the opening bell. The heavyweight contender expressed confidence in his diverse fighting abilities compared to his opponent. Details about specific tactical plans or training camp preparation were not provided in the statement.
Curtis Blaydes has made his feelings clear heading into his upcoming bout against Josh Hokit, dismissing his unbeaten opponent as a one-dimensional fighter who cannot match the breadth of his own abilities.
Blaydes, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, described the pairing as a contrast between a specialist and a complete martial artist — and left little doubt about which category he believes he falls into. The 35-year-old American, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division with a professional record of 19-6, has built his reputation largely on an elite wrestling game that produces 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that ranks among the best in the division. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, underscoring the well-rounded attack he referenced in his comments. He expects Hokit to come out aggressive and push the pace from the opening bell, but appeared unbothered by that prospect.
Hokit, nicknamed "The Incredible Hok," enters the fight undefeated at 5-0 at just 28 years old. His perfect record has attracted attention, though verifiable statistical detail from his career remains limited at this stage.
Why it matters
- A win keeps Blaydes firmly positioned inside the top five of a heavyweight division where contender spots carry enormous weight.
- Blaydes framing this as a stylistic mismatch signals he views his wrestling and striking versatility as decisive advantages.
- At 28 and undefeated, Hokit faces his most scrutinized fight to date, with the result likely shaping how seriously the division takes his candidacy going forward.
