Curtis Blaydes says he respects Josh Hawkett despite all the words and behavior from Hawkett before their fight. Blaydes explained it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Hawkett names after their bout. He acknowledged that while he doesn't like Hawkett's personality or antics, he respects him as a fighter inside the octagon when they face each other with gloves on. Blaydes stated he cannot help but respect someone capable of breaking his orbital bone, emphasizing that Hawkett can genuinely fight regardless of personal feelings about his character outside competition.
Curtis Blaydes has set aside the bad blood that surrounded his fight with Josh Hawkett, saying he cannot bring himself to disrespect a man who broke his orbital bone.
Speaking in a recent interview, the 35-year-old Blaydes made clear that whatever animosity existed heading into the bout, calling Hawkett names afterward would feel insincere and hypocritical. He acknowledged he does not particularly like Hawkett's personality or pre-fight antics, but drew a firm line between personal feelings and professional respect inside the octagon.
Blaydes, who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, currently holds the number-four ranking in the UFC heavyweight division with a record of 19-6. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, the orthodox striker brings consistent pressure to his fights, landing 3.56 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He is also one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Hawkett's verified data was not available for this report.
Why it matters
- Blaydes drawing a distinction between personal dislike and competitive respect signals a level of professionalism that often follows hard-fought heavyweight bouts
- The acknowledgment that Hawkett broke his orbital bone speaks to the physical stakes of the matchup and Hawkett's legitimate danger as a heavyweight
- At 35 and ranked fourth in the division, Blaydes remains in the thick of the heavyweight title picture, making how he frames this fight relevant to his standing and future positioning
