Curtis Blaydes shows facial damage after UFC 327 war with Josh Haukita

Curtis Blaydes took to social media two days after UFC 327 to share photographs documenting the heavy facial damage he absorbed during his heavyweight clash with Josh Haukita at the April 11 event, offering fans an unfiltered look at the physical cost of the contest.

The images, posted by Blaydes himself, showed significant swelling and bruising, a testament to what observers quickly labeled one of the more brutal heavyweight encounters in recent memory. The candid post drew widespread praise from fans, who saluted the 35-year-old as a warrior for the punishment he endured.

Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters this chapter of his career sitting fourth in the heavyweight division rankings. The American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a professional record of 19-6 and brings a physically imposing frame to the cage at six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. He has long been regarded as one of the division's most well-rounded threats, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes while also maintaining a striking accuracy of 50 percent and landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, meaning the outcome of this fight carries direct implications for title contention positioning.
• The violent nature of the contest and the visible damage Blaydes sustained raises questions about where the veteran fits in the division's next cycle of matchmaking.
• A fight described as one of the most vicious heavyweight bouts in recent memory will likely generate fresh conversations around both men's durability and toughness.