Miami — Curtis Blaydes isn’t about to engage with heavyweight opponent Josh Hokit ahead of this Saturday’s UFC 327.
“He just wants the clips. I’ve seen the one he did with Jiri. He just wants people to see like ‘oh look, he’s talking sh*t to Jiri.’ Because Jiri’s a professional. He’s not going to beat the sh*t out of you in the hotel lobby. Neither will I, because we’re going to do it this weekend,” Blaydes (19-5, 1NC) explained during Wednesday’s media day, speaking with reporters including Cageside Press. “So engaging with him right now, any day besides this weekend, waste of time.”
Hokit did attempt to spark a confrontation with Jiri Prochazka on Wednesday. He spent the entirety of his own media day session performing a pro wrestling style promo, then transitioning into a racially fueled, stereotypical Mexican character. He’s also seeing a t-shirt featuring the phrase “N Word, Please” emblazoned on it.
Curtis Blaydes is not amused by Josh Hokit's schtick leading into their fight at #UFC327
🎥: @patdannamma pic.twitter.com/YjcWqEHX6U
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) April 8, 2026
“Yes I’ve seen the shirt that he’s selling. I think, oh goodness. He’s a piece of work,” an exasperated Blaydes opined.
To Blaydes, Hokit is doing his own version of Colby Covington. The only difference, in Blaydes opinion, is that Covington is actually a good fighter.
“He’s doing the Colby Covington. I’ll give it to Colby, he was actually good, he’s actually a really good wrestler. He got better with the hands, he’s actually good. I don’t agree with him acting like that either, but at least with him, he has something to stand on. Hokit, he knows he’s not going to get paid off his actual skill in the octagon. He’s like ‘okay I’m going to be a personality. I’m going to just be the guy that when you interview me, I say random sh*t.'”
In the end, it’s just not something that Blaydes appears to appreciate on any level. “I guess if you want to be in that niche, that’s your niche, but it’s not my thing. I’m not going to engage in it.”
Watch the full UFC 327 media day appearance by Curtis Blaydes above.
