Curtis Blaydes says he respects Josh Hockett despite pre-fight antics

Curtis Blaydes stated that despite disliking Josh Hockett's personality and pre-fight behavior, he respects him as a fighter inside the octagon. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to dismiss Hockett's abilities after their fight. He acknowledged that while he doesn't enjoy Hockett's "shtick" or personal style, he cannot help but respect someone who stands across from him with gloves on. Blaydes emphasized that Hockett can genuinely fight, separating his in-cage respect from his feelings about the fighter's out-of-cage persona. The comments reflect a mature perspective on competition versus personality conflicts.