Curtis Blaydes maintained his indifferent demeanor during the face-off with Josh Hockit ahead of their UFC 327 bout. Blaydes stayed true to his word from Wednesday's media day when he stated he would not participate in helping Hockit gain attention or build hype. Despite Hockit's attempts at provocation, Blaydes showed no reaction and appeared completely unbothered by his opponent's behavior. The heavyweight contenders will meet this weekend at UFC 327. Blaydes's calm approach contrasted sharply with Hockit's theatrical antics throughout fight week.
Curtis Blaydes lived up to his pre-fight promise at the UFC 327 face-off on Thursday, refusing to engage with Josh Hockit's attempts to provoke a reaction ahead of their heavyweight clash scheduled for Saturday.
Blaydes, who told media on Wednesday that he had no intention of helping his opponent generate attention or build hype, stood expressionless as Hockit leaned into the theatrics. The 35-year-old American gave nothing away, his composure visibly contrasting with Hockit's animated behavior throughout fight week.
Ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, Blaydes carries a 19-6-0 professional record into the bout. The six-foot-four Elevation Fight Team product is one of the most physically imposing and technically demanding wrestlers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per fifteen minutes — a figure that speaks to how consistently he imposes his grappling game. He also brings genuine striking output, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at fifty percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- A win for Blaydes at number four in the heavyweight rankings keeps him firmly in contention for a title shot
- Blaydes's elite takedown volume presents a clear stylistic challenge that Hockit will need to solve early
- The composed, businesslike approach Blaydes displayed at the face-off reflects a fighter focused entirely on performance rather than spectacle
Saturday, April 11, 2026
