Curtis Blaydes on UFC 327 loss to Hokit: “I believe I won that fight”

The fight at UFC 327 is already being called one of the main candidates for the fight of the year, but for Curtis Blades, that night in Miami left conflicting emotions. After losing by unanimous decision to Josh Hokit, the heavyweight did not hide the fact that he was still confident that he had won this fight.

Curtis Blades is confident: the victory was his

Immediately after the fight, Blades made it clear that he disagreed with the judges’ decision at UFC 327. He feels like he’s got the key rounds left, especially the first and third.

He admits that the second round was taken by Hokit: there the opponent looked faster, more accurate and hit more often in series. But in the rest of the episodes, according to Blades, it was he who set the pace of the fight, pressed and worked in the clinch.

The fighter paid special attention to the clinch, a moment that often remains “behind the scenes”, but affects the outcome. Blades is sure that he won most of these exchanges, but the judges might not take this aspect into account in full.

At the same time, he does not shy away from self-criticism: yes, there were mistakes, yes, in some places he missed too much. But emotionally, he has already concluded that he does not consider this fight lost.

Fight of the Year at UFC 327: almost 400 punches and not a step back

The fight between Blades and Hokit itself became a rare case for a heavyweight — a real “meat grinder” without pauses. In three rounds, the fighters landed more than 390 punches, which looks atypical for the division.

Here are the brief statistics of the battle:

This fight was different in several ways at once:

• constant high tempo
• tough exchanges in the stand
• fighting for the initiative until the final gong

Blades admitted that technically he could have performed better — to close somewhere, to get away from the blow somewhere. But at the same time, he emphasizes the main thing: he did not give his opponent a single chance to end the fight ahead of schedule.

And there is an important point in this — the battle was not only for victory, but also for principle.

Blades and Hokita Conflict: From Press Conference to Ambulance

The history of the confrontation began even before the battle. Josh Hokit actively provoked Blades with strange speeches, rhyming attacks and outright insults.

During the battle, the tension only increased. According to Blades, Hokit allowed himself provocative gestures right in the octagon, which finally killed any possibility of “sporting respect.”

After the fight, it resulted in a cold reaction: no handshakes or friendly gestures. Blades himself later admitted that he should have behaved more professionally, but the emotions turned out to be stronger.

The most significant episode occurred after the battle, in an ambulance. After hearing Hokita’s voice, Blades immediately asked the doctors to put him away to prevent a new conflict. According to him, he was ready for the “fourth round” even in this condition.

However, this story is hardly over. Such a fight, such intensity and such a reaction from the public almost inevitably lead to a rematch. And if it takes place, it will no longer be just a fight, but a continuation of one of the most intense stories in the UFC in recent times.