Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hawkit have first face-off before UFC 327

Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hawkit came face to face for the first time Wednesday as the two heavyweights prepare to meet at UFC 327 on April 11.

The staredown adds a visual exclamation point to what has already been a heated buildup, with Hawkit in particular directing sharp words at Blaydes in the lead-up to fight night.

Blaydes, known as "Razor," enters the bout as the fourth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC. The 35-year-old American trains out of Elevation Fight Team and brings a record of 19 wins and 6 losses into the cage. Standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence at the weight class. His wrestling has long been his calling card — he averages an exceptional 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes — while his striking output sits at 3.56 significant strikes landed per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate. He has established himself as one of the division's most durable and consistent contenders over the course of his career.

Hawkit enters the fight looking to announce himself against a proven upper-echelon opponent. A strong performance against a ranked contender of Blaydes's caliber would carry obvious weight in the heavyweight picture.

Why it matters

• Blaydes is ranked fourth in the heavyweight division, meaning a win or loss has direct title-picture implications
• Hawkit has the chance to vault into the rankings with an upset over an established contender
• The style matchup pits Blaydes's elite wrestling and durability against a younger fighter with clear motivation to make a statement