Josh Hockit's fighting approach in his victory over Curtis Blaydes demonstrated both his strengths and potential vulnerabilities at the highest level. While he successfully defeated Blaydes, the analyst notes that Hockit absorbed a significant volume of strikes due to his aggressive, crowd-pleasing style that involves taunting and constant pressure. The piece suggests that such tactics could prove costly against knockout artists like Alex Pereira or Sergei Pavlovich. Despite the criticism of his defensive lapses, Hockit showed improvement in his striking power, maintaining heavy hands even into the third round of an exhausting fight, and displayed versatility with effective elbow work. His wrestling defense against Blaydes' takedown attempts was described as high-level. The analyst credits coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn for Hockit's technical development, while noting his confrontational persona aligns perfectly with Dana White and Donald Trump's preferences. A potential matchup with Derrick Lewis is mentioned, though concerns exist that Lewis may prioritize earning money and avoiding damage over securing victory.
Josh Hockit's win over Curtis Blaydes has drawn sharp analytical scrutiny, with one prominent breakdown highlighting how his aggressive, brawling approach carries real risks as he moves deeper into heavyweight contention.
The analysis frames Hockit's performance as a study in contradictions. He showed genuine improvements — heavy hands sustained through a grueling third round, effective elbow work, and a high-level wrestling defense that repeatedly stifled Blaydes' takedown attempts. But his habit of taunting opponents and maintaining constant forward pressure also left him absorbing an elevated volume of strikes, a pattern the analyst flags as a meaningful liability. Coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn receive credit for his technical development, and the piece notes his confrontational persona resonates with UFC leadership's preferred promotional style.
Why it matters
- The concern is sharpest when projecting Hockit against certified knockout artists higher up the divisional ladder.
- Sergei Pavlovich, ranked third in the heavyweight division at 34 years old, lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute with an 84-inch reach — the kind of output and length that could punish defensive lapses heavily.
- Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38, connects at a 62 percent striking accuracy rate and averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute, numbers that underline why a move to heavyweight from Pereira would represent a dangerous stylistic test for anyone who invites exchanges.
- A potential fight with Derrick Lewis is floated, though the analyst expresses concern that Lewis, ranked eighth in the division at 41 years old with a 29-14 record, may approach such a matchup with financial preservation in mind rather than aggressive intent.
The piece does not dismiss Hockit's ceiling. It simply argues that the same fearless, crowd-first style that made his Blaydes victory so compelling could be systematically exploited by opponents with the power and precision to make him pay for every defensive lapse.
