Curtis Blaydes views his upcoming fight against Josh Hewitt as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and someone with diverse skills. Blaydes positioned himself as the fighter with greater technical versatility. He expects Hewitt to come out aggressive and apply early pressure. Blaydes expressed confidence in his ability to handle whatever his opponent brings. The heavyweight contender appears to see no significant obstacles in Hewitt's style that would threaten him.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear he holds a decisive edge heading into his upcoming clash with Josh Hewitt, dismissing his opponent as a one-dimensional fighter while presenting himself as the more technically complete heavyweight in the matchup.
Blaydes, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, holds a 19-6 record and sits fourth in the UFC heavyweight rankings. The 35-year-old American, nicknamed "Razor," stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and brings one of the most well-rounded offensive games in the division. He lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and averages an elite 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him the ability to dictate where a fight takes place and do damage in multiple phases.
Blaydes acknowledged that Hewitt will likely come out aggressive and apply early pressure, but expressed full confidence in his capacity to manage that approach. His framing of the fight was straightforward: a multi-dimensional competitor against someone who relies on a narrower game plan.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight division, making every performance a step toward or away from a potential title shot
- A dominant showing would reinforce his status as one of the elite contenders in a crowded heavyweight landscape
- His wrestling volume and striking accuracy give him genuine answers to an aggressive, pressure-based style like the one he anticipates from Hewitt
- How cleanly Blaydes handles Hewitt could shape the conversation around his championship viability in the near term
