Curtis Blaydes shared an amusing story about traveling in the same ambulance with Josh Hawkett to the hospital after their fight. The journey to the nearest hospital took approximately 30 minutes. Both fighters were loaded onto gurneys and placed in the ambulance together, with Hawkett positioned behind Blaydes. Due to the design of the stretchers, Blaydes was unable to turn around to see Hawkett, but he could hear him speaking. The anecdote provides a humanizing glimpse into the immediate post-fight experience shared by two competitors who had just battled in the octagon.
Curtis Blaydes has shared a lighthearted behind-the-scenes story from the aftermath of his recent fight, revealing that he and opponent Josh Hawkett shared a 30-minute ambulance ride to the hospital together once their bout had concluded.
Blaydes described how both men were loaded onto gurneys and placed inside the same ambulance, with Hawkett positioned on a stretcher directly behind him. Because of the way the stretchers were arranged, Blaydes could not turn around to see his opponent, but he could hear Hawkett speaking during the journey. The anecdote offers a rare and humanizing look at what happens in the immediate moments after two fighters leave the octagon.
Blaydes, 35, is currently ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division and competes out of Elevation Fight Team. The American stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the most active wrestlers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He carries a professional record of 19-6 and lands strikes at a rate of 3.56 per minute with 50 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- The story offers a rare glimpse into the shared human experience of two fighters immediately after competition
- Blaydes remains a significant figure in the heavyweight division at rank four, meaning moments that shape his public profile carry divisional weight
- The casual tone of the anecdote underscores the mutual respect that can exist between competitors despite the intensity of their contest
