Josh Haukuit earned widespread praise for his performance against Curtis Blaydes, with fans declaring it the best fight of the evening. The heavyweight bout was action-packed, with Haukuit managing to turn what could have been a technical match into an exciting brawl. One analyst suggested Haukuit should not be given a title shot yet, advocating instead that he should continue fighting top-15 opponents for a couple more years to build his resume and entertain fans. The performance has generated significant fan interest in Haukuit's heavyweight run. His fighting style is seen as potentially revitalizing the heavyweight division.
Josh Haukuit turned in a career-defining performance on April 12, earning Fight of the Night recognition after dragging Curtis Blaydes into a chaotic heavyweight brawl that had fans buzzing long after the final horn.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, entered the contest as one of the most accomplished big men on the roster. The 35-year-old American out of Elevation Fight Team carries a 19-6 record and has built his reputation on relentless grappling, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, the orthodox finisher also brings genuine striking volume, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. A fight going to a firefight rather than the mat was not the blueprint Blaydes typically favors.
Haukuit, for his part, managed to neutralize enough of that wrestling threat to keep the contest standing and entertaining. The performance generated significant fan interest in what his presence could mean for the heavyweight division going forward, with some observers suggesting his style could inject renewed excitement into a weight class that has often been criticized for grinding, attrition-based fights.
Not everyone is ready to push Haukuit toward a title shot, however. One analyst argued publicly that the better path forward is continued seasoning against top-15 opponents over the next couple of years, citing resume-building and sustained fan engagement as reasons to resist fast-tracking him.
Why it matters
- Blaydes is ranked fourth at heavyweight, so a strong showing against him carries real divisional weight for Haukuit
- The style clash — Blaydes as a high-volume grappler versus Haukuit's apparent brawling approach — produced the night's most entertaining fight
- Debate over whether Haukuit deserves a title shot or needs further development will shape how the UFC matchmakers handle his next booking
