Josh Hockett made an extremely strange and disturbing speech at media day for his upcoming fight. He stated he would defeat Curtis Blaydes, cut off his head, and attach it to Alex Pereira's body. Hockett then described creating a "human centipede" by connecting the bodies of the number 3, 2, and 1 ranked fighters in grotesque fashion, which he would then walk on a leash in his yard. The bizarre comments, delivered under his "Incredible Hulk" nickname, drew reactions questioning what substances he may have taken. The outlandish nature of the remarks has been compared to similar unusual behavior from fighter Jean Silva.
Josh Hockett used his media day appearance ahead of his upcoming fight against Curtis Blaydes to deliver one of the more unsettling pre-fight speeches in recent memory, making graphic and deeply bizarre comments that quickly spread across MMA social media.
Speaking under his "Incredible Hulk" nickname, Hockett declared he would not only beat Blaydes but decapitate him and attach his head to the body of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. He then described constructing what he called a "human centipede" from the top three ranked fighters in his division, which he planned to walk on a leash in his yard. The remarks prompted immediate reactions from observers questioning what, if anything, Hockett had consumed before taking the microphone.
Blaydes, 35, enters the fight ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a 19-6-0 record. The American wrestler out of Elevation Fight Team is one of the most prolific takedown artists in the sport, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and owns a six-foot-four frame backed by an 80-inch reach.
Pereira, who was referenced in the speech despite not being Hockett's actual opponent, is the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38 years old. The Brazilian out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness carries a 13-4-0 record and lands an exceptional 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous strikers at the top of the sport.
Why it matters
- Hockett's outburst generates significant attention around what might otherwise be a mid-card heavyweight bout
- Blaydes is ranked fourth at heavyweight, meaning a win carries real divisional implications
- The spectacle has drawn comparisons to the unusual pre-fight behavior of fighter Jean Silva, suggesting a pattern of fighters using shock value to generate attention
