A commentator expressed newfound fandom for Josh Hockitt following his performance against Curtis Blaydes, declaring him capable of making the heavyweight division great again. The post praises Hockitt for energizing what could have been a dull fight with Blaydes and delivering the best bout of the evening. The writer suggests Hockitt should not receive a title shot yet but instead continue fighting top-15 opponents for a couple more years. The enthusiastic endorsement reflects Hockitt's growing popularity after his exciting fighting style on display at UFC 327.
A commentator took to social media following UFC 327 to declare themselves a newly minted Josh Hockitt fan, crediting the heavyweight with injecting life into what might otherwise have been a forgettable Saturday night card. The post, shared the day after the April 11 event, argued that Hockitt had the potential to revitalize the heavyweight division and that his clash with Curtis Blaydes stood out as the best fight of the evening.
Curtis Blaydes, the 35-year-old American ranked fourth in the heavyweight division, carried a record of 19-6 heading into the bout. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, the six-foot-four orthodox striker with an 80-inch reach has long been one of the more technically accomplished fighters in the weight class, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 50 percent accuracy clip. Despite his pedigree, the commentator credited Hockitt with steering the contest toward entertainment rather than the grinding wrestling-heavy affair Blaydes can sometimes deliver.
The endorsement for Hockitt came with a measured caveat, however. Rather than calling for an immediate title shot, the writer suggested Hockitt spend the next couple of years working through top-15 opponents to build his standing in the division before contending for heavyweight gold.
Why it matters
- Hockitt's performance at UFC 327 has generated genuine public momentum behind his name in the heavyweight ranks
- The calls for patience over a title shot signal an expectation that matchmakers will feed him high-profile but non-title bouts in the near term
- A win over a top-five heavyweight like Blaydes carries significant weight in a division where rankings movement can be slow
Saturday, April 11, 2026
