Josh Haukiti defeated Curtis Blaydes by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring it 29-28. Haukiti remains undefeated at 9-0 and secures his third UFC victory. The bout was described as the best fight of the evening. Blaydes now has a 2-3 record in his last five fights. The competitive nature of the decision reflects a closely contested battle between the rising prospect and the veteran heavyweight.
Josh Haukiti handed Curtis Blaydes a unanimous decision loss on April 12, 2026, with all three judges scoring the heavyweight contest 29-28 in favor of the rising New Zealand prospect.
Haukiti improved to a perfect 9-0 with the victory, securing his third win inside the UFC octagon. The fight was singled out as the best of the evening, a reflection of just how competitive the three rounds were against one of the division's more seasoned names.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," entered the bout ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division and carrying a 19-6-0 professional record. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and brings a physically imposing frame to every contest, standing six-foot-four at 193 cm with an 80-inch reach. He is one of the most prolific takedown artists in the heavyweight division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and lands strikes at a rate of 3.56 significant strikes per minute with 50 percent accuracy. The loss leaves him at 2-3 over his last five outings, a difficult stretch for a fighter who was once considered a title contender.
Why it matters
- Haukiti's perfect record now stands at 9-0, and three UFC wins give him legitimate momentum in the heavyweight rankings conversation.
- Blaydes drops to 2-3 in his last five fights, raising questions about where the fourth-ranked heavyweight goes from here.
- A 29-28 scorecard across all three judges suggests neither fighter dominated, which may amplify debate about the result given Blaydes' grappling advantages on paper.
- A win over a top-five heavyweight is a significant résumé addition for any prospect looking to accelerate toward title contention.
