In what has to be one of the more bizarre fight weeks in recent memory veteran contender Curtis Blaydes dealt with undefeated rising prospect Josh Hokit, and his antics leading into their fight at UFC 327 on Saturday night.
Blaydes (19-5) for the most part refused to engage with Hokit’s multitude of characters from fight week and the way through the ceremonial weigh-ins. He has been one of the most consistent heavyweights in the UFC for years, with wins over top competition and a reputation built on dominant wrestling and ground control.
Blaydes also carries real power, but it’s his ability to dictate where the fight takes place that separates him. It’s a tool he’ll look to use against Hokit on Saturday night.
Hokit’s (8-0) impressive start to his UFC career has taken on a different light with the heavyweight playing different characters for the cameras. At media day he grabbed the microphone, spoke as different characters, and then put the mic down and left.
Antics aside he’s one of the more intriguing new names in the heavyweight division. He’s finished every opponent he’s faced, including two quick stoppages to begin his UFC run. Hokit’s very unpredictable, and while he’s undefeated he’s also untested. Blaydes will be a very big jump in caliber of opponent on Saturday night.
Round 1 – Hokit tried to get under Blaydes’ skin during the fighter introductions and carried that energy into the opening moments of the fight.
He came out aggressively, landing a clean right hand before Blaydes shot in on a single-leg attempt that Hokit avoided—adding a bit of flair by flipping him off in the process.
Hokit then rocked Blaydes with another big right hand and swarmed, looking for the finish. Blaydes managed to stay composed, regain his footing, and eventually fired back, landing a shot that hurt Hokit in return.
Hokit’s hand speed was a major factor early, as he continued to land heavy right hands that kept Blaydes on the defensive. But amid the chaos, Blaydes timed a shot and secured a takedown.
Hokit scrambled back to his feet, only for Blaydes to drag him down again. After another escape attempt, Hokit broke free, but the repeated stand-ups were clearly taxing his gas tank.
Back on the feet, Hokit landed again and taunted Blaydes, flipping him off once more. Blaydes responded by charging forward with heavy shots of his own, turning the fight into a wild exchange.
Blaydes eventually clipped Hokit with a shot that hurt him and poured on the pressure, looking for the finish. He backed Hokit to the fence, working the body before landing a right hand on the break, then continued the assault with follow-up shots to the head.
Hokit kept marching forward, throwing with reckless aggression, including a massive right hand that connected with Blaydes. He backed Blaydes to the fence, landed a shot to the body, and briefly paused to catch his breath.
In the clinch, Blaydes worked to the body while Hokit continued to target the head. Blaydes began to show signs of fatigue after eating another powerful right hand, and Hokit pressed forward, looking for the finish.
Blaydes answered with a flurry that landed as Hokit backed off, and in the clinch again, he returned to body work in an effort to slow the pace. Hokit responded with a knee to the head, followed by a shot to the body, while Blaydes fired back with an uppercut up the middle.
Both men traded heavy right hands in the final moments as the round came to a close.
Round 3 – Blaydes came out aggressively, landing early on Hokit, who appeared to bait him by feigning damage to draw an attack. Blaydes shot in for a takedown but couldn’t bring him down.
Hokit’s hand speed remained a major factor, as he continued to fire sharp, fast combinations. The two heavyweights traded relentlessly in what quickly became one of the wildest fights you’ll see.
With just over two minutes remaining, Blaydes began to slow, but he refused to back down. Both men continued exchanging heavy shots, each strike drawing a reaction from the crowd as it seemed like it could end the fight at any moment.
Blaydes slipped shots and fired back in bursts, but Hokit still had enough in the tank to answer with precise flurries.
Blaydes would land a combination, and Hokit would respond in kind, neither willing to give ground.
In the final 10 seconds, both fighters emptied the tank, throwing everything they had until the horn sounded.
Official Result: Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
