Curtis Blaydes says he respects Josh Hewitt despite pre-fight trash talk

Curtis Blaydes expressed respect for Josh Hewitt following their recent fight, despite all the verbal exchanges and antics before the bout. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Hewitt's abilities after their encounter. While Blaydes admits he doesn't enjoy Hewitt's personality or promotional tactics, he acknowledges his opponent's fighting skills inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender stated that once the gloves are on and they're facing each other in the cage, respect is mandatory given what transpired between them.