Josh Hawkit made headlines at a recent media day with an extremely unusual and graphic speech about his upcoming opponent. The heavyweight fighter delivered a disturbing monologue in which he threatened to decapitate Curtis Blaydes and attach his head to Alex Pereira's body, then create a grotesque "human centipede" by connecting ranked fighters together. Hawkit stated he would sew the number three ranked fighter to the number two ranked fighter's backside, then attach the number two's head to the number one's backside, and keep this creation on a leash in his yard. The bizarre nature of his comments drew comparisons to another fighter, Jean Silva, and left observers questioning what substances he may have consumed. The speech represents an extreme example of pre-fight psychological warfare tactics.
Josh Hawkit turned a routine media day appearance into something altogether stranger, delivering a graphic and disturbing monologue directed at his upcoming heavyweight opponent Curtis Blaydes that quickly circulated among MMA observers.
Hawkit's remarks went well beyond standard trash talk. He threatened to decapitate Blaydes and attach his head to the body of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, then described constructing a grotesque chain of ranked fighters — sewing the number-three-ranked man to the backside of the number-two-ranked man, connecting the number-two's head to the backside of the number-one, and keeping the entire creation on a leash in his yard. The speech drew comparisons to fellow fighter Jean Silva and left many wondering exactly what Hawkit had consumed before stepping in front of the microphone.
Curtis Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the matchup ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a record of 19-6. The 35-year-old American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and is one of the most prolific takedown artists in the sport, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Alex Pereira, dragged into the spectacle by name alone, is the reigning light heavyweight champion. The Brazilian known as "Poatan" carries a 13-4 record and fights out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. At 38 years old, the six-foot-four southpaw-fighter-turned-orthodox striker lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 62 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Hawkit's remarks inject an unusual psychological dimension into what is already a high-stakes heavyweight contest
- Blaydes at number four in the rankings means a win for either man carries meaningful divisional implications
- The bizarre nature of the speech risks overshadowing the legitimate sporting stakes of the fight
