Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hockit faced off ahead of their UFC 327 bout, with Blaydes maintaining complete indifference to Hockit's behavior. The post notes that Blaydes had stated during Wednesday's media day that he would not participate in promotional theatrics or help Hockit build his profile, and he kept his word during the faceoff. Blaydes appeared unaffected by any attempts at psychological warfare from his opponent. The post invites fans to predict the winner of the matchup. No specific details about Hockit's behavior during the faceoff were provided.
Curtis Blaydes made clear at the UFC 327 faceoff on Thursday that he had no interest in playing games with Josh Hockit, keeping his composure and expression completely flat as the two heavyweights met ahead of their bout scheduled for April 11.
Blaydes had set the tone a day earlier during Wednesday's media day, stating plainly that he would not engage in promotional theater or do anything to help elevate his opponent's profile. When the moment arrived, he followed through, standing unmoved as Hockit attempted to generate some kind of reaction.
The 35-year-old American carries a 19-6-0 record into the fight and is ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, Blaydes is one of the more well-rounded big men on the roster. Standing six feet four inches tall with an 80-inch reach, he lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also averaging a remarkable 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent and versatile threat on the feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- Blaydes is ranked fourth at heavyweight, meaning a strong performance keeps him in title contention
- His refusal to engage in faceoff theatrics suggests a focused, businesslike mindset heading into fight night
- Hockit will need to find a way past one of the division's most prolific grapplers
Saturday, April 11, 2026
