Curtis Blaydes has publicly stated his respect for Josh Hockit as a fighter, despite not appreciating Hockit's personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes explained that it would be insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Hockit's abilities after their bout. While Blaydes doesn't enjoy Hockit's promotional tactics and persona outside the cage, he acknowledges and respects his opponent's fighting skills inside the Octagon. Blaydes emphasized that when they stand across from each other with gloves on, respect is mandatory given Hockit's demonstrated fighting ability. This statement reflects a mature perspective on separating personal feelings from professional respect in competition.
Curtis Blaydes has broken his silence on Josh Hockit following their bout, acknowledging a clear separation between personal distaste and professional respect for his opponent's abilities inside the Octagon.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, made clear that dismissing Hockit as a fighter after competing against him would be both insincere and hypocritical. While the 35-year-old American said he has no appreciation for Hockit's personality or promotional tactics outside the cage, he insisted that standing across from someone with gloves on demands a different standard of honesty.
The Elevation Fight Team product, who carries a 19-6-0 professional record, has built his reputation as one of the more technically complete heavyweights in the world. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes brings a rare combination of grappling pressure and striking output to the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent and 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Blaydes remains a top-four heavyweight, and his assessment of Hockit carries weight given the context of direct competition
- The comments suggest genuine competitive tension existed heading into the fight, adding credibility to his post-bout remarks
- Separating personal friction from in-cage respect reflects the kind of professional perspective that shapes divisional rivalries at the highest level
