Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Josh Hewitt as a fighter despite not liking his personality or pre-fight behavior. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Hewitt names when he acknowledges that Hewitt can fight. While Blaydes dislikes Hewitt's antics and persona, he says he must respect him when they stand across from each other in the octagon with gloves on. Blaydes emphasized that respecting an opponent's fighting ability is necessary regardless of personal feelings. The comments suggest there was significant verbal buildup before their fight.
Curtis Blaydes has drawn a clear line between personal dislike and professional respect ahead of his matchup with Josh Hewitt, acknowledging that the heavyweight contender has genuine fighting ability despite friction between the two men leading up to the bout.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, said it would be insincere to hurl insults at Hewitt while privately recognizing him as a legitimate fighter. The 35-year-old American explained that once two fighters are standing across from each other in the octagon with gloves on, respect for what the opponent can do becomes unavoidable. He made clear that his distaste is aimed at Hewitt's personality and pre-fight behavior, not his capabilities as a competitor.
The comments from Blaydes, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, suggest the verbal buildup between the two was substantial. His willingness to separate personal animosity from competitive acknowledgment reflects a measured approach, even amid what appears to have been a heated promotional period.
Blaydes carries a record of 19-6 and has long been one of the more complete athletes in the heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he brings considerable physical tools to any matchup. His wrestling-heavy style has produced an elite takedown rate of 5.38 per fifteen minutes, while he also generates 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute at a 50 percent accuracy clip — a combination that makes him dangerous in multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance carries meaningful title-contention implications
- The personal tension between the fighters adds an emotional edge to what is already a high-stakes divisional bout
- Blaydes's elite wrestling against an opponent he views with competitive respect sets up an intriguing stylistic test
