Commentary on Josh Haquit's performance against Curtis Blaydes highlights his increasingly heavy hands and improved striking variability under Winkeljohn's coaching. Despite absorbing many strikes, Haquit maintained power through all three rounds and showed strong takedown defense. However, his reckless brawling style, which succeeded against Blaydes, could lead to knockout defeat against elite strikers like Alex Pereira or Sergei Pavlovich. The analyst notes that while Derrick Lewis remains a potential opponent, Lewis may enter the bout prioritizing money and avoiding damage over securing victory. Haquit's deviant behavior and showmanship align perfectly with Dana White and Trump's preferences, especially with Trump attending in the front row.
A recent analyst breakdown of Josh Haquit's performance against Curtis Blaydes raises a pointed question about how far his brawling approach can carry him in the heavyweight division — and whether it carries a dangerous ceiling.
The commentary credits Haquit's development under Jackson-Winkeljohn coaching, noting heavier hands, improved striking variability, and the ability to sustain power across all three rounds despite absorbing significant volume. His takedown defense also held up against a credentialed wrestler in Blaydes. The analyst frames those as genuine, measurable improvements. The concern is what happens when the opposition can actually hurt him back with elite-level precision.
That concern centers on two names. Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion at 193 cm with a 79-inch reach, lands an exceptional 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy — numbers that represent a different tier of danger than Haquit has faced. Sergei Pavlovich, ranked third in the heavyweight division, is nearly as threatening on paper, averaging 4.43 significant strikes per minute as a southpaw with an 84-inch reach that gives him serious range advantages. Both men, the analysis suggests, could expose the same recklessness that worked against Blaydes.
Why it matters
- Haquit's chin-first style may not survive contact with Pereira's or Pavlovich's output
- A fight with Derrick Lewis — ranked eighth at heavyweight, age 41 — is floated as a more likely next step, though the analyst questions Lewis's competitive motivation in that scenario
- Haquit's showmanship is noted as a promotional asset, particularly given the high-profile atmosphere surrounding the event
The analyst stops well short of dismissing Haquit, acknowledging that his power and conditioning are legitimate. The argument is narrower: the same aggression that produced a win could produce a finish against strikers who punish commitment at the level Pereira and Pavlovich operate.
