Curtis Blaydes indifferent to Josh Hokit's antics at UFC 327 face-off

Curtis Blaydes kept his composure at the UFC 327 face-off on Wednesday, refusing to give unbeaten heavyweight Josh Hokit the reaction he appeared to be looking for ahead of their bout on Saturday night.

Blaydes made his position clear during media day, stating outright that he has no intention of engaging with Hokit's promotional tactics or lending him any additional attention. The face-off itself underscored the point, with Blaydes standing stone-faced while Hokit attempted to generate a moment.

Ranked fourth in the heavyweight division, Blaydes carries a 19-6-0 record into the fight and brings a wealth of UFC experience to the cage. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and has long been one of the division's most prolific grapplers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him a credible threat both on the feet and on the mat.

Hokit, nicknamed "The Incredible Hok," enters the fight undefeated at 5-0-0. The 28-year-old has used the pre-fight buildup to draw attention to himself, though Blaydes has shown no interest in playing along.

Why it matters

• A win would push Blaydes further into the title conversation at heavyweight, where he already holds a top-five ranking.
• Hokit's perfect record makes him a credible dark horse, and a victory would represent a massive leap in competition for the unbeaten prospect.
• The contrast in styles and experience levels sets up an intriguing matchup, with Blaydes' elite wrestling likely to be a central factor.