Curtis Blaydes shared his perspective on his upcoming fight against Josh Hawkit, characterizing it as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and someone with a broader skillset. Blaydes positioned himself as the fighter with multiple skills in the equation. He acknowledged that he expects an aggressive start from Hawkit with significant pressure early in the fight. The details about specific strategies or training camp adjustments were limited in Blaydes' comments.
Curtis Blaydes has spoken out ahead of his upcoming heavyweight bout against Josh Hawkit, framing the matchup as a contest between a fighter with a single dimension and one who brings a far more complete game to the cage.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," holds a 19-6-0 professional record and is currently ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the most relentless wrestlers in the division. He averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that ranks among the elite at heavyweight, while also landing strikes at a rate of 3.56 significant strikes per minute with a 50 percent striking accuracy.
In his comments, Blaydes positioned himself as the more versatile fighter, suggesting Hawkit relies too heavily on a single aspect of his game. He did, however, acknowledge that he expects Hawkit to come out fast and apply heavy pressure in the early rounds, signaling that he is not overlooking the threat his opponent presents at the start of the fight.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance keeps him in contention for a title shot
- His elite takedown volume gives him a clear path to controlling Hawkit if the wrestling-to-striking combination he described comes together
- Blaydes flagging an aggressive early start from Hawkit suggests pacing and ring generalship could be a key factor in how the fight unfolds
