Analysis of Josh Khokuto's performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 reveals both strengths and concerns about his fighting approach. While Khokuto can fight more defensively to avoid taking excessive damage, his established persona and crowd-pleasing style forces him to engage recklessly, which worked against Blaydes but could lead to knockout losses against fighters like Pereira or Pavlovich. The analyst notes Khokuto's striking power has increased significantly, with his hands remaining heavy even in the exhausting third round, and praised his elbow work and high-level takedown defense. Khokuto's variability in striking, credited to coach Winkeljohn, was highlighted as a positive development. However, the deviant behavior and brawling style, while perfectly suiting Trump and Dana White's preferences, may not be sustainable at the championship level. The upcoming fight with Derrick Lewis at the White House event is expected to showcase this same reckless approach.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
