Curtis Blaydes assessed his upcoming fight against Josh Hokit as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and a more well-rounded competitor. Blaydes positioned himself as the fighter with multiple skills compared to Hokit's more limited approach. He expects Hokit to come out aggressively and apply early pressure in the fight. The post includes a fan poll asking readers to predict whether the fight will end in the first round, second round, or go to a decision. Blaydes appears confident heading into the contest based on his skill set advantage.
Curtis Blaydes has offered a candid assessment of his upcoming heavyweight clash with Josh Hokit, describing the matchup as a contest between a one-dimensional opponent and a fighter he believes carries a far more complete skill set.
Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," enters the fight ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a record of 19 wins and 6 losses. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and brings a physically imposing frame to the cage, standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. His numbers back up his confidence: he lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and his wrestling is among the most active in the division at 5.38 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Hokit, known as "The Incredible Hok," comes in undefeated at 5-0 and is just 28 years old. The perfect record speaks to his early-career potential, though the available data offers limited detail on his striking or grappling output at this level.
Blaydes predicted Hokit will look to impose himself early, expecting an aggressive, pressure-heavy start from his opponent. However, Blaydes framed his own multi-faceted game as the decisive edge, suggesting Hokit's narrower approach leaves him without answers if the fight shifts away from whatever his primary strength may be.
Why it matters
- Blaydes at fourth in the heavyweight rankings means a strong performance keeps him in title contention
- Hokit's unbeaten record gives him momentum, but this is a significant step up in competition
- The stylistic contrast — Blaydes's elite wrestling and volume striking against a pressure-forward undefeated prospect — sets up a clear first-round stress test for both men
