Josh Hockett made headlines at a UFC media day with an extremely unusual and graphic speech about his upcoming opponent. The heavyweight contender delivered a disturbing monologue claiming he would decapitate Curtis Blaydes and attach his head to Alex Pereira's body, then create a grotesque 'human centipede' from ranked fighters that he would keep on a leash. The bizarre rant drew comparisons to recent unusual fighter behavior and left observers questioning his mental state. Details about what may have prompted the outburst remain limited, though it occurred during official UFC media obligations. Hockett refers to himself as 'The Incredible Hulk,' which he incorporated into his strange comments.
Josh Hockett turned heads at a UFC media day on April 8 when the heavyweight delivered one of the more unsettling pre-fight monologues in recent memory, targeting his upcoming opponent Curtis Blaydes with a graphic and bizarre verbal tirade.
Hockett, who goes by the nickname "The Incredible Hulk," claimed during his official media obligations that he would decapitate Blaydes and attach his head to the body of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. He then described constructing a "human centipede" from ranked fighters that he would keep on a leash. The outburst drew immediate comparisons to other recent episodes of unusual fighter behavior, and left observers questioning his state of mind. What prompted the rant remains unclear.
Blaydes, the No. 4-ranked heavyweight in the UFC at 35 years old, enters the bout carrying a 19-6 record. The American wrestler out of Elevation Fight Team is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes — a number that sits among the best in heavyweight history. He stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach.
Pereira, name-dropped in the rant despite not being involved in a heavyweight matchup, is the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion. The 38-year-old Brazilian out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness holds a 13-4 record and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate — figures that underscore why he holds championship gold.
Why it matters
- Hockett's outburst has drawn significant attention to an otherwise routine media day appearance ahead of a heavyweight contest
- Blaydes is a top-five heavyweight whose wrestling credentials make him a serious contender, raising the stakes of the fight itself
- The decision to invoke Pereira's name unprompted signals the kind of psychological theater that can precede high-profile divisional crossover attention
- Whether the rant reflects a deliberate strategy or genuine instability, it has placed Hockett under a harsh spotlight heading into fight week
