Curtis Blaydes unbothered by Josh Hockett's antics during UFC 327 face-off

Curtis Blaydes made it clear at the UFC 327 face-off on Thursday that he had no interest in playing into Josh Hockett's pre-fight theatrics, standing stone-faced as his heavyweight opponent attempted to get under his skin ahead of their bout scheduled for April 11.

Blaydes had set the tone a day earlier at Wednesday's media day, where he stated plainly that he would not engage in promotional gamesmanship or do anything to help Hockett raise his profile. When the two men came face-to-face, Blaydes followed through entirely, showing zero reaction to whatever Hockett brought to the staredown.

The composure was characteristic of a fighter who has been at this level for a long time. Blaydes, known as "Razor," is 35 years old, fights out of Elevation Fight Team, and carries a 19-6-0 record in the heavyweight division, where he is currently ranked fourth. The American stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. His game is built around consistent output and a relentless wrestling attack — he averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect both his volume and efficiency at heavyweight.

Why it matters

• Blaydes enters as a ranked contender at fourth in the heavyweight division, meaning a strong performance keeps him in title conversation
• His refusal to engage with Hockett's mind games signals a focused, businesslike approach heading into fight night
• The stylistic contrast between Blaydes's elite wrestling and whatever Hockett brings to the table sets up an intriguing heavyweight matchup