Josh Hewitt made an extremely unusual appearance at UFC media day, delivering a shocking and graphic speech about his opponent Curtis Blaydes. Hewitt claimed he would knock out Blaydes, then described a grotesque fantasy involving attaching Blaydes' head to Alex Pereira's body and creating a "human centipede" from ranked fighters. He stated he would parade this creation on a leash in his yard, referring to himself as "The Incredible Hulk," his fighting nickname. The bizarre nature of the comments left observers questioning what substances or mental state led to such extreme trash talk. This represents one of the more disturbing and surreal pre-fight promotional moments in recent UFC history.
Josh Hewitt turned a routine UFC media day appearance into one of the strangest pre-fight moments in recent memory on April 8, delivering a graphic and deeply unsettling verbal attack directed at his upcoming heavyweight opponent Curtis Blaydes.
Hewitt, who fights under the nickname "The Incredible Hulk," opened by predicting a knockout victory over Blaydes before the speech veered into deeply disturbing territory. He described a fantasy involving severing Blaydes' head, attaching it to the body of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, and stitching together a chain of ranked fighters into a so-called "human centipede" — which he then claimed he would parade on a leash in his yard. The comments left those in attendance visibly unsettled and prompted immediate questions about what prompted such extreme rhetoric.
Blaydes enters the fight as the number-four ranked heavyweight at 19-6-0. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. He is one of the division's most prolific wrestlers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and carries a 50 percent striking accuracy across his career.
Pereira, referenced in Hewitt's speech but not a participant in this matchup, is the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil. The 38-year-old carries a 13-4-0 record and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an elite 62 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous strikers on the roster.
Why it matters
- Hewitt's outburst raises immediate questions about his mental and emotional preparation heading into a high-profile heavyweight contest
- Blaydes is ranked fourth in the division, meaning a upset victory would carry significant rankings implications for Hewitt
- The confrontational and erratic tone could affect the pre-fight dynamic and how both camps approach fight week
