Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hockitt faced off ahead of their UFC 327 bout, with Blaydes showing complete indifference to Hockitt's behavior. Blaydes stated at Wednesday's media day that he would not participate in any antics or help Hockitt promote himself, and he kept that promise during the face-off. The post notes how little Blaydes cares about his opponent's attempts at engagement or showmanship. The channel asks followers to predict who will win the heavyweight matchup. Blaydes appears focused on the fight itself rather than the pre-fight promotional activities.
Curtis Blaydes made clear at the UFC 327 face-off on Thursday that he had zero interest in playing along with Josh Hockitt's attempts to generate pre-fight theater, standing stone-faced as the two heavyweights met ahead of their Friday night bout.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the heavyweight division, had set the tone at Wednesday's media day by stating plainly that he would not engage in any antics or help his opponent build a spotlight. He carried that attitude directly into the face-off, offering Hockitt nothing to work with.
The 35-year-old American, who competes out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a 19-6-0 professional record into the contest. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, "Razor" is a physical presence even by heavyweight standards. His grappling numbers are among the most imposing in the division, with 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he lands strikes at a rate of 3.56 per minute on a 50 percent accuracy mark.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance keeps him in contention for a title shot
- His composed, business-first demeanor going into the bout reflects a fighter who sees no tactical value in the pre-fight back-and-forth
- With elite wrestling and consistent striking volume, Blaydes presents a multidimensional problem for any opponent
Saturday, April 11, 2026
