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

Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Josh Hockitt as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight antics. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to deny Hockitt's fighting ability after their bout. While Blaydes doesn't appreciate Hockitt's trash talk and behavior outside the octagon, he acknowledges his opponent's skills inside it. Blaydes emphasized that when facing someone in the cage with gloves on, respect for their fighting ability is warranted. His comments reflect a professional attitude toward separating personal feelings from competitive respect.