The UFC’s heavyweight division is primed for a shakeup. With champion Tom Aspinall sidelined by an eye injury and Alex Pereira set to clash with Ciryl Gane on the White House lawn for the interim belt, the rankings are on the verge of a dramatic overhaul.
That transformation could begin as early as Saturday, when top-five mainstay Curtis Blaydes takes on surging prospect Josh Hokit at UFC 327 in Miami.
Blaydes (19–5, 14–5 UFC [1 NC]) rebounded from a first-minute knockout to Tom Aspinall with a split-decision win over Rizvan Kuniev — another rising contender — last June. Hokit (8–0, 2–0 UFC) has hit the ground running in the promotion, scoring back-to-back first-round knockouts, most recently a walkoff finish against Denzel Freeman in January.
Blaydes enters as a -135 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Hokit sits as a +114 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds.
Blaydes vs. Hokit Preview
Curtis Blaydes (#5)
Curtis Blaydes steps into the Octagon Saturday night, almost exactly 10 years after his UFC debut in April 2016. In the decade since, the American heavyweight has cemented himself as one of the division’s most formidable foes. A decorated wrestler with devastating power, “Razor” Blaydes holds the UFC heavyweight record for takedowns landed while also boasting 13 professional knockouts, including three first-round stoppages.
Blaydes rebounded from his interim title loss to Tom Aspinall with a split-decision win over Rizvan Kuniev last June, handing the burgeoning contender his first UFC defeat. Often acting as a gatekeeper to the heavyweight top five, Blaydes’ only losses have come against the likes of Francis Ngannou (twice), Derrick Lewis, Sergei Pavlovich, and Aspinall. But it’s worth mentioning that each loss came by knockout or TKO. And at 35, questions linger over how long the veteran can continue restricting access to the division’s elite.
Josh Hokit
Human wrecking-ball Josh Hokit is off to a blistering start to his UFC career. Two fights in, the former Fresno State wrestler and football fullback has already collected a pair of first-round knockouts. He starched Max Gimenis in under a minute in his November debut before scoring a last-second TKO against Denzel Freeman in January — complete with a walk-off middle finger.
“The Incredible Hok” doesn’t waste time — his meteoric rise fueled by a rapid pace and all-action style. He boasts a 100% finish rate, comprising five knockouts, three submissions, and six first-round stoppages. Still just 28, Hokit enters the biggest fight of his career with a chance to crack the division’s top five after only three UFC fights.
Blaydes vs. Hokit Pick, Best Bet
Saturday night could inject new life into the stagnant heavyweight division. The surging prospect Hokit will likely employ his speed and athleticism to blitz the bigger, grappling-focused Blaydes, whose troubles have come almost exclusively against explosive strikers. As the fight swings further in the veteran’s favor the longer it lasts, expect Hokit to press early and land a decisive shot that puts the division on notice.
