Josh Hockett made waves at a recent media day appearance with an extremely unusual and disturbing speech directed at his opponents. The fighter, who goes by the nickname "The Incredible Hulk," described graphically violent scenarios involving Curtis Blaydes and Alex Pereira, among others. His bizarre comments included threats to create a "human centipede" from ranked opponents that he would walk on a leash in his yard. The outlandish nature of his statements has drawn comparisons to another eccentric fighter, Jean Silva. Observers are questioning whether Hockett was under the influence of something during his appearance, as his behavior was highly unconventional even by MMA standards.
Josh Hockett sent shockwaves through the MMA community after delivering a deeply strange and threatening speech at a recent media day appearance, with remarks so extreme they immediately sparked widespread discussion across the sport.
Hockett, who fights under the nickname "The Incredible Hulk," used the platform to direct graphic, violent commentary at several high-profile opponents. Among those named were UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira and ranked heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes. In perhaps the most disturbing image conjured during the appearance, Hockett described assembling ranked fighters into a so-called "human centipede" that he would walk on a leash in his yard. Observers at the scene questioned whether Hockett had been under the influence of something during the appearance, as his conduct stood out as highly unusual even within a sport not short on theatrical pre-fight behavior. The speech drew comparisons to heavyweight eccentric Jean Silva.
The fighters Hockett targeted are no strangers to the upper tier of the sport. Alex Pereira, the 38-year-old Brazilian champion out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, holds a 13-4 record and currently sits atop the light heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" lands an impressive 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 62 percent. Curtis Blaydes, meanwhile, is ranked fourth in the heavyweight division with a 19-6 record. The 35-year-old from the United States, also six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, is a relentless wrestling presence, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes for Elevation Fight Team.
Why it matters
- Hockett named two fighters from separate weight classes, making it unclear what competitive context, if any, the remarks were intended to establish
- The behavior raises questions about professionalism and media access standards within the sport
- Comparisons to other unconventional fighter personalities suggest a pattern the promotion may need to address
