Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hocket faced off before their UFC 327 bout, with Blaydes remaining completely indifferent to Hocket's behavior. At the Wednesday media day, Blaydes stated he would not participate in promotional theatrics or help Hocket build his profile. He kept his word during the faceoff by maintaining a stoic demeanor. The post includes a poll asking fans to predict the winner between Blaydes and Hocket. Blaydes' refusal to engage contrasts sharply with Hocket's attempts at provocation.
Curtis Blaydes made clear he had no interest in playing along with Josh Hocket's mind games, keeping a stone-faced composure throughout their UFC 327 faceoff on April 10, the eve of the event.
Speaking at Wednesday's media day, Blaydes said plainly that he would not engage in promotional theatrics or lend Hocket any help in raising his profile. When the two men came face to face, Blaydes delivered on that promise, standing unmoved while Hocket pushed for a reaction.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the fight as the No. 4-ranked heavyweight in the UFC at 35 years old. The Colorado-based product of Elevation Fight Team carries a 19-6-0 professional record and brings a well-documented ground game to the cage. He averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him one of the more consistent wrestling-based attacks in the division. He also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, and stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach.
No verified ranking or record data for Hocket was available in the AgentMMA database at the time of publication.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight division, meaning a strong performance keeps him in contention for a title shot.
- His refusal to engage with Hocket removes any psychological edge his opponent may have been seeking heading into fight night.
- The stylistic contrast — Blaydes as a high-volume wrestler and striker against an opponent attempting to get in his head — could define the early exchanges inside the octagon.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
