Curtis Blaydes has publicly stated his respect for Josh Emmett following their bout, despite Emmett's behavior and comments before the fight. Blaydes acknowledged it would be insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Emmett's abilities after their encounter. While Blaydes admits he doesn't appreciate Emmett's personality or antics outside the cage, he maintains full respect for him as a fighter inside the octagon. The heavyweight contender explained that after experiencing Emmett's fighting ability firsthand, including a broken orbital bone, he cannot help but respect his opponent. Blaydes emphasized that respect in combat is earned through performance, regardless of personal feelings about someone's character.
Curtis Blaydes has spoken publicly about his respect for Josh Emmett following their bout, setting aside personal animosity to acknowledge what Emmett demonstrated inside the octagon despite friction between the two men in the lead-up to the fight.
Blaydes, the 35-year-old heavyweight contender from the United States, enters the conversation ranked fourth in the division with a 19-6-0 record. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, the six-foot-four orthodox striker has built his reputation on a relentless wrestling game, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent. He has been one of the more consistent presences near the top of the heavyweight rankings for years.
Emmett, ranked ninth at featherweight and representing Team Alpha Male, carries a 19-7-0 record at 41 years of age. The five-foot-six orthodox fighter averages 3.67 significant strikes per minute and has shown throughout his career a willingness to engage in bruising exchanges. His history with Team Alpha Male reflects a combat style built on toughness and forward pressure.
Blaydes made clear he has little affinity for Emmett's personality or conduct outside the cage, but said it would be insincere to dismiss what Emmett showed him in competition. The heavyweight contender pointed to a broken orbital bone as concrete evidence of what Emmett brought to the fight, framing the injury as something that makes dismissal impossible and disrespect unearned. He described combat respect as something that must be earned through performance, independent of personal feelings about someone's character.
Why it matters
- Blaydes remains a top-four heavyweight contender, and his words carry weight in how the division views crossover matchups and fighter credibility
- The remarks highlight a clear separation between personal dislike and professional respect, a theme that resonates broadly in combat sports culture
- Emmett, at 41 and ranked ninth at featherweight, earned acknowledgment from a significantly larger and higher-ranked opponent, which speaks to his durability and striking effectiveness
