Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hockit faced off before their UFC 327 bout, with Blaydes demonstrating complete indifference to Hockit's behavior. According to the post, Blaydes had already stated at Wednesday's media day that he would not participate in promotional antics or help Hockit gain exposure, and he kept his word during the staredown. The post notes that Blaydes appears unconcerned with Hockit's attempts to create drama. A poll asks fans to predict the winner of the matchup.
Curtis Blaydes made clear at the UFC 327 faceoff on April 10 that he has no interest in playing along with Josh Hockit's attempts to manufacture pre-fight drama ahead of their heavyweight clash scheduled for April 11.
Blaydes, who had already set the tone at Wednesday's media day by publicly declaring he would not participate in promotional antics or help an opponent gain exposure, carried that same composure into the staredown. While Hockit made efforts to provoke a reaction, Blaydes — standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach — offered nothing in return, holding his ground with visible disinterest.
The 35-year-old American fights out of Elevation Fight Team and enters UFC 327 ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 19 wins and 6 losses. Known as "Razor," Blaydes has built a reputation as one of the division's most relentless grapplers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also puts in volume on the feet, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits just outside the heavyweight title picture at number four, making a strong performance essential to any championship case
- His elite takedown output poses a significant stylistic challenge for any opponent he faces
- By refusing to engage in the faceoff theatrics, Blaydes signaled a strictly business approach heading into a fight that carries real divisional weight
Saturday, April 11, 2026
