Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Josh Hokit as a fighter despite disliking his behavior and trash talk before their bout. Blaydes explained it would be insincere to claim Hokit cannot fight, acknowledging that his opponent broke his orbital bone. The heavyweight contender said that while he doesn't enjoy Hokit's personality or pre-fight antics, he respects him inside the Octagon when they face each other with gloves on. Blaydes emphasized that respect in competition is different from personal approval. His comments reflect a mature perspective on separating personal feelings from professional respect in MMA.
Curtis Blaydes has broken down his feelings toward Josh Hokit ahead of their heavyweight matchup, making clear that personal distaste and professional respect are two very different things.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, acknowledged that Hokit's pre-fight behavior and trash talk have rubbed him the wrong way. But the 35-year-old American said it would be dishonest to dismiss Hokit's ability as a fighter — pointing specifically to the fact that Hokit broke his orbital bone as evidence that the unbeaten prospect can genuinely hurt people. For Blaydes, respect inside the Octagon exists independently of whether he approves of someone's personality outside it.
Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and carrying a 19-6 record, Blaydes has established himself as one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, the orthodox grappler averages 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the highest rates in the division — and lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Hokit, known as The Incredible Hok, enters the fight undefeated at 5-0 at just 28 years old. The unblemished record signals real promise, and Blaydes' candid acknowledgment of the damage Hokit has already inflicted on him adds weight to the matchup.
Why it matters
- Blaydes is ranked fourth at heavyweight, meaning a loss could seriously damage his title aspirations
- Hokit's perfect record and youth make him a credible threat despite his inexperience at the UFC level
- The grappling-heavy style of Blaydes figures to clash with whatever tools allowed Hokit to fracture his opponent's orbital bone
- Blaydes' comments signal he is approaching this fight with focus rather than overconfidence
