Analyst praises Hawkit's performance against Blaydes as best fight of UFC 327

A media analyst became a self-declared Josh Hawkit fan following his heavyweight clash with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327, held on April 11, calling their bout the best fight of the entire card.

The analyst's enthusiasm was directed squarely at Hawkit's performance, crediting him with making an exciting contest out of a matchup with one of the division's most accomplished fighters. In a nod to Hawkit's long-term potential, the commentary humorously urged promoters to hold off on any title shot, suggesting a couple more years against top-15 opponents would serve him — and the division — far better.

Curtis Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, brought a formidable résumé into the fight. The 35-year-old American, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a 19-6-0 professional record and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the weight class. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes averages 5.38 takedowns per fifteen minutes and lands strikes at a rate of 3.56 per minute with 50 percent accuracy — numbers that make any opponent's task a difficult one.

Why it matters

• Hawkit's performance against a top-five heavyweight draws genuine attention to his upside and entertainment value
• A standout showing against Blaydes could push Hawkit into rankings conversations for the first time or solidify his position among the division's contenders
• The analyst's suggestion to keep Hawkit in top-15 matchups reflects a broader hope that his style can inject renewed energy into a heavyweight division often criticized for slow, grinding bouts