Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hockit faced off before their UFC 327 bout, with Blaydes appearing completely unbothered by Hockit's behavior. Blaydes maintained his stance from Wednesday's media day when he stated he would not participate in promotional theatrics or help Hockit gain attention. He kept his word during the face-off, showing indifference to his opponent's attempts at psychological warfare. The post characterizes Blaydes as having no interest in the pre-fight show. The matchup is scheduled for UFC 327.
Curtis Blaydes made it clear at the UFC 327 face-off on Thursday that Josh Hockit's mind games would find no purchase — the heavyweight contender stood unmoved and unimpressed as his opponent attempted to generate some pre-fight friction ahead of their Saturday bout.
Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," had already set expectations at Wednesday's media day, stating plainly that he had no intention of playing along with promotional theatrics or lending Hockit a platform for attention-seeking behavior. He followed through at the face-off, projecting the kind of flat indifference that made Hockit's efforts look one-sided.
The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and carries a 19-6-0 professional record into the fight, currently ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division. At six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes is a physically imposing presence, but it is his wrestling that defines him — he averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, one of the highest rates in the division. He also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him dangerous in multiple phases.
No verified data for Hockit was available in the AgentMMA database ahead of this report.
Why it matters
- A win keeps Blaydes firmly in the heavyweight title conversation at ranked fourth in the division
- His elite takedown rate sets up a potential stylistic mismatch if Hockit lacks proven takedown defense
- Blaydes refusing to engage mentally suggests a disciplined, fight-focused camp heading into Saturday night
Saturday, April 11, 2026
