Curtis Blaydes views his upcoming fight against Josh Hockitt as a matchup between a one-dimensional fighter and someone with a diverse skillset. Blaydes considers himself the fighter with multiple skills in this contest. He anticipates an aggressive start from Hockitt with significant pressure early in the fight. Blaydes appears confident in his ability to handle whatever his opponent brings to the cage.
Curtis Blaydes has made his feelings clear heading into his upcoming heavyweight bout against Josh Hockitt, expressing confidence that his well-rounded game gives him a decisive edge over what he sees as a one-dimensional opponent.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," described the matchup as a contrast between a fighter with a single area of threat and one capable of competing across multiple aspects of the sport — placing himself firmly in the latter category. He also signaled that he expects Hockitt to come out hard and fast, anticipating heavy early pressure from his opponent.
The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and enters the contest ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division with a professional record of 19-6. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes is a physically imposing presence at the top of the division. His numbers reflect a fighter who does damage on the feet and on the mat alike: he lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, while averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that ranks among the highest in the heavyweight division.
Verified data for Hockitt was not available in the AgentMMA database at time of publication.
Why it matters
- A win keeps Blaydes in contention among the heavyweight division's top five, with title implications potentially within reach.
- Blaydes's elite takedown volume could be a defining factor if Hockitt's game is as narrowly focused as Blaydes suggests.
- The stylistic contrast Blaydes is highlighting — versatility versus specialization — will be a key narrative thread heading into fight night.
