Blaydes remains unfazed by Hokit's antics at UFC 327 face-off

Curtis Blaydes made it clear at the UFC 327 face-off on Wednesday that he had no interest in playing along with Josh Hokit's attempts to generate pre-fight drama, standing stone-faced as the unbeaten heavyweight tried to draw a reaction ahead of their bout on the Miami card this weekend.

Blaydes, who had spoken openly at Wednesday's media day about refusing to help Hokit build his profile through promotional theatrics, delivered on that promise during the staredown. The 35-year-old American, training out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a 19-6-0 professional record into the fight and holds the number four ranking in the heavyweight division. At six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes is a physically imposing presence, and his wrestling has long been his calling card — he averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that ranks among the best in the division. He also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him dangerous on the feet as well.

Hokit enters the contest undefeated at 5-0-0, and at 28 years old he represents one of the more intriguing newcomers in the heavyweight ranks. His nickname, "The Incredible Hok," hints at the personality he was clearly trying to showcase during the face-off, though Blaydes gave him nothing to work with.

Why it matters

• A Blaydes win would reinforce his position as a legitimate top-five heavyweight contender
• Hokit's perfect record is on the line against the stiffest test of his career by a significant margin
• The stylistic contrast — Blaydes's elite wrestling versus Hokit's unproven résumé — makes the bout one of the more compelling matchups on the UFC 327 card