Curtis Blaydes says he respects Josh Hockit despite pre-fight behavior

Curtis Blaydes revealed he holds respect for Josh Hockit as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight antics. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Hockit's abilities given their octagon encounter. While Blaydes doesn't appreciate Hockit's persona or trash-talking approach, he acknowledges his opponent's fighting skills and respects him when they face each other with gloves on. The heavyweight contender emphasized that respecting an opponent's fighting ability is separate from liking their character outside the cage. This mature perspective shows Blaydes' professional approach to competition.