Curtis Blaydes has publicly stated that he respects Josh Hockitt as a fighter despite disliking his pre-fight behavior and personality. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to deny Hockitt's fighting abilities after their bout. While Blaydes doesn't appreciate Hockitt's promotional tactics and persona outside the cage, he acknowledges genuine respect for his opponent's skills inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender emphasized the importance of respecting anyone willing to stand across from him with gloves on, regardless of personal feelings about their character.
Curtis Blaydes has gone on record to say he holds genuine respect for Josh Hockitt as a fighter, even while making clear he has little regard for his opponent's pre-fight conduct and promotional persona.
Blaydes, the number-four ranked heavyweight contender at 35 years old, acknowledged it would be both insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Hockitt's abilities inside the cage after sharing the octagon with him. The American wrestler out of Elevation Fight Team made the distinction plainly: personal dislike and professional respect can coexist. He added that anyone willing to step across from him with gloves on deserves acknowledgment for that alone, regardless of what they do or say outside the fight.
The 19-6 Blaydes has long been one of the heavyweight division's most dangerous wrestlers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he also carries legitimate striking volume, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, meaning his statements carry weight in how divisional rivalries and future matchups are perceived.
- The separation he draws between personal feelings and in-cage respect speaks to a broader tension between fight promotion and authentic competitor relationships.
- Hockitt's pre-fight antics, whatever their nature, clearly landed with some effect, making Blaydes' public response a notable moment in the lead-up narrative.
