Curtis Blaydes revealed that he and his opponent Josh Howitt rode together in the same ambulance after their fight. The two fighters were transported on gurneys to the nearest hospital, a 30-minute drive from the arena. Blaydes explained that Howitt was positioned behind him on the gurney in the ambulance, and while he couldn't turn around to see him due to the gurney's backrest, he could hear Howitt speaking to him during the journey. The details about the nature of their conversation or their injuries were not disclosed in the brief interview.
Curtis Blaydes has revealed that he and his opponent Jhonata Diniz shared an ambulance ride to the hospital following their heavyweight bout, offering an unusual glimpse into the moments immediately after the fight.
Blaydes, who goes by "Razor," described being transported on a gurney alongside Diniz in the same vehicle, with the Brazilian positioned directly behind him. Because of the gurney's backrest, Blaydes said he was unable to turn around and see Diniz, but he could hear his opponent speaking to him during the roughly 30-minute journey to the nearest hospital. The specifics of their exchange and the nature of their injuries were not disclosed.
The 35-year-old American fights out of Elevation Fight Team and carries a 19-6-0 record in the heavyweight division, where he is currently ranked fourth. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes is known primarily as a grappler, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career. He also brings respectable output on the feet, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- The shared ambulance detail underscores the physical toll the fight took on both men, hinting at a closely contested or brutal exchange.
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning the result carries direct implications for the division's title picture.
- Diniz's presence in the ambulance alongside a top-five heavyweight suggests the Brazilian also absorbed considerable punishment, raising questions about the immediate health of both fighters.
