Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes responded to Josh Hewett's provocative behavior, comparing it to Colby Covington's approach. Blaydes acknowledged that Covington was actually good at the trash-talking persona, and said if Hewett wants to occupy that niche, that's fine, but it's not for him. He stated he won't participate in such antics and believes Hewett is just trying to create viral video moments. Blaydes views any interaction with Hewett outside of fight night as a waste of time, suggesting he won't engage with the promotional tactics.
Curtis Blaydes has pushed back against Josh Hewett's provocative behavior, drawing a pointed comparison between Hewett and welterweight veteran Colby Covington in comments made public on April 9.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the heavyweight division at 19-6, made clear he has no interest in trading verbal volleys outside of the cage. The 35-year-old American out of Elevation Fight Team stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach and has built his reputation on methodical, pressure-based fighting — averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy rate. For Blaydes, any engagement with Hewett beyond fight night is simply a waste of his time.
The heavyweight acknowledged that Covington, for all the noise he generates, actually executes the trash-talking persona with genuine skill. Covington, now 38 and holding a 17-5 record, has long made provocation a central part of his brand, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes while backing up the attention-seeking with real in-cage output. Blaydes conceded that Hewett is welcome to chase a similar lane — he just won't be playing along.
In Blaydes' view, Hewett is engineering viral moments rather than building a legitimate rivalry, and the heavyweight contender is not interested in providing the fuel.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning his public profile and any surrounding drama carry divisional weight.
- By invoking Covington as a benchmark, Blaydes signals he sees Hewett's antics as calculated promotion rather than genuine antagonism.
- Blaydes' stated refusal to engage could shape how their pre-fight dynamic develops if a matchup is eventually formalized.
