Josh Hawkett made a disturbing appearance at a media day event, delivering a highly unusual speech involving violent imagery. He stated he would decapitate Curtis Blaydes and attach his head to Alex Pereira's body, then stitch the number three ranked fighter to the number two's rear end, and the number two's head to the number one's rear end, creating a "human centipede" that the "Incredible Hulk" (Hawkett's nickname) would walk on a leash in his yard. The bizarre comments drew comparisons to Gene Silva and left observers questioning what substances Hawkett might have consumed. The content was captured by MMA Junkie.
At a media day event on April 8, 2026, Josh Hawkett delivered what can only be described as one of the stranger speeches in recent MMA memory, invoking graphic violent imagery that left onlookers visibly unsettled and sparked immediate conversation across the sport.
Hawkett, who fights under the nickname "Incredible Hulk," outlined an elaborate and deeply unusual scenario in which he would decapitate Curtis Blaydes and attach his head to Alex Pereira's body. He then described stitching the number-three ranked fighter to the number-two's rear end, and the number-two's head to the number-one's rear end, forming what he called a "human centipede" that he would walk on a leash in his yard. The remarks, captured by MMA Junkie, drew immediate comparisons to the eccentric Gene Silva and prompted widespread speculation about Hawkett's state of mind at the time.
The fighters named in Hawkett's monologue are both established forces in their respective divisions. Alex Pereira, 38, is the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion out of Brazil, carrying a 13-4 record and training out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. The six-foot-four Brazilian is one of the most prolific strikers in the organization, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 62 percent.
Curtis Blaydes, known as "Razor," is a 35-year-old Heavyweight contender ranked fourth in his division with a 19-6 record. The six-foot-four American from Elevation Fight Team is primarily known as a dominant wrestler, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes with a reach of 80 inches.
Why it matters
- Hawkett's comments thrust him into the spotlight without throwing a single punch, whether that was the intent or not
- Both Pereira and Blaydes are prominent names near the top of their divisions, amplifying the attention the speech received
- The remarks drew instant cultural comparisons and raised questions about the boundaries of pre-fight promotional behavior
