Curtis Blaydes expressed respect for Josh Hewitt as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes stated it would be insincere and hypocritical not to acknowledge Hewitt's fighting ability. While he doesn't appreciate Hewitt's antics and promotional style outside the cage, Blaydes said he must respect anyone standing across from him with gloves on. The heavyweight contender emphasized the importance of respecting opponents' skills regardless of personal feelings about their character.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear he holds a professional respect for Josh Hewitt as a fighter, even as personal friction between the two has defined their pre-fight buildup.
Speaking ahead of their matchup, the heavyweight contender acknowledged that whatever he thinks of Hewitt's personality and promotional behavior outside the cage, dismissing his opponent's abilities as a fighter would be both insincere and hypocritical. Blaydes stated that anyone standing across from him with gloves on deserves that recognition, regardless of personal feelings about their character.
Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the bout ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and carries a record of 19-6-0. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence at the top of the division. His wrestling-heavy style is reflected in a takedown rate of 5.38 per 15 minutes, one of the more dominant grappling outputs among active heavyweights. He also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, showing he is a capable threat on the feet as well.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance carries real title implications.
- His comments signal a focused, disciplined mindset despite a contentious buildup with Hewitt.
- The style matchup and divisional positioning make this a meaningful contest in a heavyweight picture that remains wide open below the champion.
