Analyst praises Hockit performance, calls for more top-15 fights before title shot

One night after UFC 327, at least one prominent analyst emerged as a declared Josh Hockit fan, crediting the heavyweight contender for turning his bout with Curtis Blaydes into the event's standout performance.

The commentator went beyond simple praise, arguing that Hockit is injecting genuine excitement into a division that can often struggle to deliver memorable nights. Rather than calling for an express lane to a title shot, the analyst urged patience, advocating for Hockit to spend the next couple of years working through the top-15 before any championship conversation becomes serious.

Standing opposite Hockit at UFC 327 was Curtis "Razor" Blaydes, the 35-year-old American ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 19-6. Blaydes trains out of Elevation Fight Team and brings one of the most complete wrestling-based skill sets in the weight class. He averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him a legitimate measuring stick for any heavyweight with title ambitions.

Why it matters

• A fight-of-the-night performance against a ranked top-five opponent signals Hockit has the tools to compete at the division's highest level.
• The analyst's call for continued top-15 matchups rather than an immediate title shot reflects the depth of the current heavyweight rankings.
• Blaydes remains a credible gatekeeper, meaning the quality of the showing carries real weight in shaping divisional momentum.
• How the UFC matchmakers respond to both fighters following this result will define the near-term landscape of the heavyweight top five.