Curtis Blaydes stated he respects Josh Hockitt as a fighter despite disagreeing with his personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Hockitt anything negative when he clearly can fight at a high level. While Blaydes dislikes Hockitt's persona and antics outside the cage, he said he respects him inside the Octagon when they face each other with gloves on. Blaydes questioned how he could not respect someone capable of competing at that level.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear that personal differences with Josh Hockitt will not stop him from acknowledging what his upcoming opponent brings to the table as a fighter.
Speaking ahead of their matchup, Blaydes said he finds Hockitt's personality and pre-fight behavior disagreeable but stressed it would be both insincere and hypocritical to dismiss him as a competitor. He explained that anyone capable of performing at that level inside the Octagon has earned genuine respect, regardless of how they carry themselves outside of it. When the gloves go on, Blaydes said, that respect is there.
Blaydes, nicknamed Razor, enters the bout ranked fourth in the heavyweight division. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and carries a record of 19 wins and 6 losses. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence in the division and one of its most accomplished grapplers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also contributes on the feet, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent striking accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance carries significant divisional weight.
- His willingness to separate personal dislike from professional respect signals a focused, businesslike approach to the fight.
- The stylistic matchup takes on added intrigue given Blaydes's elite wrestling output and his stated determination not to underestimate Hockitt's abilities at the highest level.
