Curtis Blaydes says he respects Jailton Almeida despite pre-fight trash talk

Curtis Blaydes stated that he respects Jailton Almeida as a fighter inside the octagon despite not liking his personality or pre-fight antics. Blaydes said it would be insincere and hypocritical to call Almeida names after their fight, emphasizing that Almeida can genuinely fight. He distinguished between respecting someone's fighting ability versus appreciating their personality or promotional tactics. Blaydes indicated that once gloves are on and they're facing each other in the cage, respect is mandatory. The comments reflect a mature perspective on separating personal feelings from professional respect.