Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Josh Hokit as a fighter despite disliking his personality and pre-fight behavior. Blaydes acknowledged it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Hokit names after their bout. He emphasized that Hokit can clearly fight, noting that Hokit broke his orbital bone during their contest. While Blaydes doesn't appreciate Hokit's theatrics and personal style outside the cage, he respects him as an opponent inside the octagon. This represents a mature perspective on separating personal feelings from professional respect.
Curtis Blaydes has offered a measured and candid take on his bout with Josh Hokit, making clear that a personal dislike for his opponent's behavior outside the cage does not override the professional respect he earned inside it.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the UFC heavyweight division, acknowledged that calling Hokit names after the fight would be insincere and hypocritical. The clearest evidence of Hokit's ability, in Blaydes' own telling, was a broken orbital bone — damage the younger fighter inflicted during their contest. Whatever Blaydes thinks of Hokit's theatrics and pre-fight antics, he was direct in saying the man can clearly fight.
The 35-year-old American carries a 19-6-0 record and has built his heavyweight reputation largely on elite wrestling, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, the six-foot-four orthodox striker also lands 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him one of the more well-rounded forces in a brutal division.
Hokit, nicknamed "The Incredible Hok," enters with a perfect 5-0-0 record at just 28 years old. The unbeaten mark tells its own story, and the orbital fracture he inflicted on a seasoned top-five heavyweight adds significant weight to the growing attention around his name.
Why it matters
- Blaydes publicly crediting an unbeaten prospect with legitimate fighting ability signals Hokit's stock is rising in the heavyweight picture.
- The injury detail — a broken orbital bone — underscores that Hokit's record reflects genuine competition, not soft matchmaking.
- Blaydes' ranking and experience make his endorsement, however reluctant on a personal level, a meaningful data point for how the division views this newcomer.
