Curtis Blaydes has stated that he respects Josh Hockitt as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Hockitt weak after their fight, acknowledging that his opponent can genuinely fight. While Blaydes doesn't appreciate Hockitt's tactics and persona outside the cage, he maintains respect for him as a competitor inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender emphasized that once the gloves are on and they're facing each other, respect is mandatory.
Curtis Blaydes has gone on record to separate his feelings about Josh Hockitt the person from his assessment of Hockitt the fighter, making clear that genuine respect inside the cage is non-negotiable regardless of what happens outside it.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, acknowledged that while he has little appreciation for Hockitt's pre-fight behavior and overall persona, calling him weak after their bout would be both insincere and hypocritical. The American contender was direct: Hockitt can genuinely fight, and pretending otherwise would say more about Blaydes than his opponent.
The 35-year-old from the United States trains out of Elevation Fight Team and has built his reputation as one of the most technically accomplished heavyweights in the world. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes carries a professional record of 19-6 and brings an elite wrestling-based game into every fight, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. He also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, a combination that makes him dangerous in multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Blaydes holds the number-four ranking in the heavyweight division, meaning a strong performance keeps him firmly in title contention.
- His public remarks signal a measured, professional mindset heading into the fight despite evident personal friction with Hockitt.
- The stylistic contrast between Blaydes's wrestling-heavy approach and whatever Hockitt brings sets up a compelling competitive test at 265 pounds.
Blaydes summed up his position plainly: once the gloves are on and two fighters are standing across from each other, respect is mandatory.
