Curtis Blaydes isn’t giving Josh Hokit the eye he clearly craves forward of their struggle at UFC 327 on Saturday.
Ever since arriving within the UFC, Hokit has completed his finest to lower professional wrestling type promos earlier than and after his fights, usually occasions bordering on being flat out offensive at any time when he opens his mouth. During UFC 327 struggle week, Hokit already tried to begin an altercation with fundamental occasion fighter Jiri Prochazka and did the identical speaking trash to Carlos Ulberg once they handed one another within the host resort.
For his half, Blaydes is aware of precisely what Hokit is making an attempt to obtain and that’s getting consideration, which is why he’s not even bothering with him till the set foot within the octagon on Saturday night time.
“No [I haven’t run into him] and I’m going to be honest, I don’t want to,” Blaydes stated throughout UFC 327 media day. “He just wants the clips.
“Like I saw the one he did with Jiri [Prochazka]. He just wants people to see like ‘oh look, he’s talking shit to Jiri!’ Because Jiri is a professional. He’s not going to beat the shit out of you in the hotel lobby. Neither will I because we’re going to do it this weekend. Engaging with him right now or any day besides this weekend, waste of time.”
Blaydes believes Hokit is doing his finest to mimic one other well-known trash talker from the UFC however his makes an attempt have come up quick.
Add to that, Blaydes doesn’t view Hokit as an excellent fighter so he’s compensating his lack of expertise by making an attempt to be probably the most over-the-top lunatic on the complete roster.
“He’s doing the Colby Covington bit,” Blaydes stated. “But I’ll give it to Colby, he was actually good. He was actually a really good wrestler, 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 be able to get paid off of his actual skill inside of the octagon. He’s like ‘OK, I’m going to be a personality.’ I’m going to be the guy when you interview him, ‘I say random shit’ and 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 with it.”
Blaydes has largely prevented any ugly rivalries since he arrived within the UFC however he is aware of Hokit is doing every part doable to get beneath his pores and skin.
So far, Blaydes has solely been aggravated by Hokit’s antics however he expects the loud-mouthed heavyweight to actually go on the offensive in the course of the UFC 327 press convention on Thursday. He guarantees that he’s not going to take the bait however that doesn’t imply Hokit isn’t going to attempt.
“Right now, just slightly annoying but I’m sure after tomorrow when we do the presser, I’m not going to like him very much,” Blaydes stated. “The UFC can just take my microphone. I’m not going to respond.
“That’s what he wants. He wants the views. He wants to get the viral [moment] like the [Conor] McGregor ‘who the f*ck is that guy?’ He wants that. I’m not going to give you what you want. I’m going to be dry. Very, very dry.”
When it comes to the precise struggle, Blaydes doesn’t actually view Hokit as a critical menace, which is why he’s satisfied that his upcoming opponent is desperately making an attempt to seize the highlight now earlier than they meet within the octagon.
“He’s a smaller version of [Jailton] Almeida,” Blaydes stated about Hokit. “That’s essentially how I view him. He wants to grapple. He doesn’t want to really be on the feet at all. He doesn’t believe in his hands. He’s a small heavyweight. It’s hard to be a small heavyweight when you don’t have any hands.
“He really, really, he wants to be this guy, this personality guy. I think he’s doing it because he knows he’s not going to win and he’s like ‘how do I maintain a place in the UFC? I’ll be the funny guy.’”
Based on resumes, Blaydes was a bit of shocked the UFC even provided him Hokit within the first place, particularly contemplating the place they each sit within the heavyweight pecking order.
Blaydes is a perennial prime 5 ranked contender with a pair of fights towards present champion Tom Aspinall not to point out an extended record of notable wins within the UFC. Meanwhile, Hokit is 2-0 within the UFC and he’s but to face anyone even remotely comparable to Blaydes a lot much less any ranked opposition.
But Blaydes isn’t viewing the matchup as a slight to him however slightly that the UFC most likely doesn’t take pleasure in Hokit’s conduct very a lot both and this can be a great way to shut him up.
“I’m viewing it either the UFC really likes him or they really don’t like him,” Blaydes stated. “I’m going to lean towards the latter, I don’t think they like him very much.
“I don’t want to say I’m a gatekeeper but if I am, I’m good at it. I know you’re not going to beat me unless you’re legit and I don’t think Hokit’s legit.”
