Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Josh Hokit as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes explained that it would be insincere and hypocritical to deny Hokit's fighting ability, acknowledging that anyone who can break his orbital bone deserves respect inside the octagon. While Blaydes does not appreciate Hokit's antics and persona outside the cage, he maintains full respect for him as an opponent when they face each other with gloves on. The statement reflects Blaydes' ability to separate personal feelings from professional respect for fighting skills.
Curtis Blaydes has made clear that personal dislike and professional respect are two entirely different things when it comes to his upcoming matchup with Josh Hokit, speaking publicly about the rivalry on April 16.
Blaydes, who competes at heavyweight as the number-four ranked contender in the division, acknowledged that dismissing Hokit's abilities would be both dishonest and hypocritical. His reasoning was direct: any fighter capable of breaking his orbital bone has earned genuine respect inside the octagon. The 35-year-old American, fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, carries a professional record of 19-6-0 and brings serious credentials to the matchup. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, Blaydes is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the heavyweight division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent.
Hokit, known as "The Incredible Hok," enters the contest undefeated at 5-0-0. The 28-year-old has yet to accumulate the kind of statistical depth that comes with longer UFC tenure, but his perfect record speaks for itself as a statement of early-career momentum.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits at number four in the heavyweight rankings, making every fight a direct statement in the title picture
- Hokit's unbeaten record gives him credibility as a disruptive underdog capable of reshaping the division's landscape
- The personal friction between the two adds an edge to what is already a stylistically compelling matchup between an elite wrestler and an undefeated rising contender
- Blaydes' willingness to publicly separate personality from ability suggests he is approaching this fight without the danger of underestimating his opponent
