Houchin's brawling style poses risks against elite heavyweights despite Blaydes win

Analysis of Josh Houchin's performance against Curtis Blaydes acknowledged he could fight more defensively but his established persona as a brawler requires him to maintain that approach. While the strategy worked against Blaydes, such reckless attacks would likely result in knockout losses against Pereira or Pavlovich. Despite absorbing heavy damage, Houchin showed improved power that carried into the third round without his hands becoming ineffective. His elbow work in the final round demonstrated striking variety from coach Winkeljohn's training. Houchin easily defended all of Blaydes' takedown attempts, indicating high-level defensive wrestling. The analyst noted Houchin's aggressive behavior perfectly matches the preferences of Trump and Dana White. Regarding the upcoming Derrick Lewis fight at the White House, the analyst suggested Lewis may prioritize collecting a paycheck and avoiding damage over seeking victory.