Curtis Blaydes shuts down Josh Hokit’s fight-week noise ahead of UFC 327

Curtis Blaydes is keeping his distance from curtis blaydes and the attention he says Josh Hokit is trying to create ahead of UFC 327 on Saturday night. Speaking during UFC 327 media day, Blaydes said he has no interest in engaging with Hokit before they enter the octagon. The heavyweight said Hokit’s behavior is aimed at getting clips, views, and a viral moment, and he called any interaction before fight night a waste of time.

Blaydes says the spotlight hunt is the point

Blaydes pointed to Hokit’s fight-week conduct as evidence that the matchup is about more than competition for the fighter on the other side. He said Hokit has been trying to start altercations during UFC 327 week, including an incident involving Jiri Prochazka and another confrontation with Carlos Ulberg at the host hotel. Blaydes said he understands the strategy and will not help it along.

“He just wants the clips, ” Blaydes said during UFC 327 media day. “Engaging with him right now or any day besides this weekend, waste of time. ”

Blaydes also said Hokit appears to be copying the style of a famous UFC trash talker, but without the same foundation. He described Hokit as someone who believes he cannot earn attention through his in-cage skill alone and is instead leaning into a loud personality to get noticed. Blaydes said that is not his approach and that he does not plan to play along.

UFC 327 press conference could test that restraint

Blaydes expects the next major flashpoint to come at Thursday’s UFC 327 press conference, where he thinks Hokit may step up the theatrics. Even so, he said he is ready to stay quiet and let the moment pass. He suggested the promotion could even take his microphone away if that is what it takes to avoid giving Hokit the reaction he wants.

“That’s what he wants, ” Blaydes said. “He wants the views. He wants to get the viral moment. ”

The matchup itself, in Blaydes’ view, is a simple one: Hokit wants to grapple, while Blaydes sees little reason to treat him as a major threat. He compared Hokit to a smaller version of Jailton Almeida, saying that is how he views the challenge heading into Saturday.

What Hokit is trying to build before Saturday

For now, the story around this UFC 327 bout is being driven as much by Hokit’s behavior as by the fight itself. Blaydes said Hokit is doing his best to force reactions during fight week, but he is refusing to hand over the moment.

Blaydes said the real answer will come when the cage door closes, and he made clear that curtis blaydes will only respond once the two meet inside the octagon on Saturday night.