Curtis Blaydes responded to Josh Hawkitt's provocative behavior ahead of their fight, comparing Hawkitt to Colby Covington. Blaydes acknowledged that Covington was actually good at what he does, suggesting Hawkitt is merely trying to imitate that style. He stated that Hawkitt is just looking to create viral moments and content clips, and that engaging with him outside of fight night would be a waste of time. Blaydes made it clear he won't participate in the mind games or trash talk.
Curtis Blaydes has pushed back on the pre-fight antics of Josh Hawkitt, drawing a pointed comparison between his upcoming opponent and welterweight veteran Colby Covington ahead of their scheduled bout.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the heavyweight division at 35 years old, carries a 19-6-0 record into the matchup. The six-foot-four American, who trains out of Elevation Fight Team, is one of the more well-rounded grapplers in the heavyweight ranks, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy clip. That combination of wrestling volume and striking precision has defined his career at the top of the 265-pound division.
The man drawing his ire is Hawkitt, who has apparently adopted a loud, provocative approach to the build-up. Blaydes acknowledged Covington by name, noting that the 38-year-old "Chaos," who carries a 17-5-0 record and has built an entire brand around psychological warfare and high-volume wrestling, is actually effective at what he does. The implication was clear: Hawkitt is running a imitation of that playbook without the credibility to back it up.
Blaydes made his position straightforward. He characterized Hawkitt's conduct as a chase for viral clips and social media content, and stated plainly that engaging with it outside of fight night would be a waste of his time. He has no intention of playing along.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a strong performance carries real divisional weight
- His refusal to engage keeps the focus on his considerable physical and technical advantages heading in
- Hawkitt's attempt to mirror Covington's style of psychological pressure could backfire if Blaydes remains composed and dictates the terms on fight night
