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Curtis Blaydes stated he respects Josh Hockett as a fighter despite not appreciating his personality or behavior before their bout. Blaydes acknowledged it would be insincere to dismiss Hockett's fighting ability after their encounter. While Blaydes doesn't enjoy Hockett's persona or promotional tactics, he recognizes and respects his skills inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender emphasized that once the gloves are on and they face each other in competition, mutual respect for fighting ability is unavoidable. Blaydes' comments reflect a professional attitude toward separating personal feelings from competitive respect.
AgentMMA.com
