Curtis Blaydes stated he respects Josh Hockett's fighting ability despite their contentious pre-fight interactions. Blaydes acknowledged that it would be insincere to dismiss Hockett after their bout, emphasizing that his opponent can fight. While Blaydes admits he doesn't care for Hockett's personality or antics outside the cage, he gives full respect to his skills inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender explained that respecting an opponent who stands across from you with gloves on is simply the right thing to do. This shows Blaydes' professional approach to separating personal feelings from competitive respect.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear that whatever friction existed between himself and Josh Hockett before their fight, it does not extend to how he views his opponent as a competitor.
Speaking in a recent interview, the 35-year-old heavyweight contender drew a deliberate line between personal feelings and professional respect. Blaydes said he has no affinity for Hockett's personality or the antics that accompanied their pre-fight buildup, but stopped well short of dismissing him as a fighter. He acknowledged that doing so after sharing the octagon with him would simply be dishonest, and that anyone standing across from you with gloves on deserves to be taken seriously.
Blaydes, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, currently holds the number four ranking in the UFC heavyweight division. The six-foot-four American carries an 80-inch reach and owns a professional record of 19-6. He is one of the more well-rounded grapplers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes while also posting a striking accuracy of 50 percent and landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute — numbers that reflect a fighter capable of controlling opponents both on the feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- Blaydes remains firmly in heavyweight title contention at rank four, so how he carries himself publicly still shapes his positioning in a crowded division.
- His willingness to separate personal conflict from competitive respect signals a measured, professional mindset heading into or coming out of a meaningful fight.
- The comments add nuance to what appeared to be a genuinely tense pre-fight dynamic, suggesting Blaydes views Hockett as a legitimate test regardless of the bad blood.
