Curtis Blaydes questions Josh Hokit heavyweight future ahead of Lewis bout

Curtis Blaydes remains unconvinced that Josh Hokit can sustain a career at heavyweight despite his unbeaten UFC record, though he gives the rising contender a strong chance against Derrick Lewis on June 14 at UFC White House.

Hokit took the Lewis fight just two months removed from his war with Blaydes, a quick turnaround that concerns Blaydes given the damage absorbed in their three-round battle. The veteran heavyweight questioned whether Hokit's durability will hold up if he continues welcoming brutal exchanges against larger opponents. "He has a good young jaw," Blaydes told MMA Fighting. "You do that three or four times, that jaw is going to be gone." Blaydes suggested Hokit might find more longevity at 205 pounds, where opponents hit lighter but move faster, adding that serious discussions about a drop should happen within Hokit's camp.

Why Hokit can beat a fading Lewis

Despite his reservations about Hokit's long-term prospects at heavyweight, Blaydes sees a clear route to victory over the 41-year-old Lewis, who has won only three of his last eight octagon appearances. Blaydes acknowledged that facing Lewis with a compromised chin from the recent Blaydes fight carries obvious risk, but noted that the version of Lewis who showed up against Waldo Cortes-Acosta looked unmotivated and allowed takedowns at will. "If you get a Derrick Lewis that doesn't really care and just allows you to take him down at will, he can win like that," Blaydes said, though he cautioned that a motivated Lewis hunting the knockout could present a different challenge entirely.

Blaydes stopped short of calling Hokit a future champion, citing limited evidence against the division's elite. He pointed out that Hokit's success against him does not guarantee similar results against fighters like Alexander Volkov or even Lewis himself. "We had a great fight but styles make matchups," Blaydes said, adding that while Hokit has obvious potential, he would not guarantee championship success without more data points. A win over Lewis would push Hokit closer to title contention and extend his unbeaten streak heading into the biggest UFC card of the year.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Curtis Blaydes still not sold on Josh Hokit’s long-term future at heavyweight, but explains why he can beat Derrick Lewis | MMA Fighting