Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes offered his perspective on Josh Hockett's provocative behavior ahead of their upcoming fight. Blaydes suggested that Hockett is attempting to emulate Colby Covington's persona but gave Covington credit for actually backing up his talk with performance. Blaydes indicated he has no interest in engaging with this approach, stating it's not his style. He believes Hockett is simply looking to create viral video moments and considers interacting with him outside of fight week a waste of time. The two are scheduled to compete this weekend.
Curtis Blaydes has weighed in on the pre-fight behavior of upcoming opponent Josh Hockett, brushing aside what he views as manufactured provocation ahead of their scheduled heavyweight bout this weekend.
Blaydes, ranked fourth in the heavyweight division at 35 years old, carries a 19-6 record into the matchup and has established himself as one of the more technically complete big men in the sport. The six-foot-four American out of Elevation Fight Team is an elite grappler by any measure, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, and backs that up with 50 percent striking accuracy — a sharp number for a heavyweight. He has made clear that engaging in back-and-forth theatrics outside of fight week holds no appeal for him.
In addressing Hockett's conduct, Blaydes drew a pointed comparison to welterweight veteran Colby Covington — though he was careful to give Covington his due. The 38-year-old Covington, who holds a 17-5 record and has long built his brand around provocation, at least delivers inside the cage to justify the noise, Blaydes acknowledged. His implication was that Hockett has adopted a similar persona without the same track record to support it. Blaydes framed Hockett's behavior as a calculated attempt to generate viral content rather than genuine competitive intensity, and indicated he sees no reason to play along.
Why it matters
- Blaydes sits fourth in the heavyweight rankings, meaning a dominant performance could strengthen his case for another title-contention run.
- His elite takedown rate against an opponent willing to brawl and generate attention could create a stark stylistic contrast.
- Blaydes keeping a level head and refusing to be baited may indicate a focused, game-plan-driven approach heading into fight night.
