Curtis Blaydes Questions UFC 327 Decision After Heavyweight War With Josh Hokit

One of the highlights of UFC 327 last weekend in Miami was the heavyweight fight between Curtis Blaydes and Josh Hokit. The two heavyweights delivered a hard-fought three-round battle that earned Fight of the Night honors, a substantial bonus, and early recognition as a potential Fight of the Year contender.

Hokit, after a fifteen-minute battle, was declared the winner of the bout unanimously by the three judges, who all rated the match 29-28 in his favor. Although the official decision was in favor of Hokit, Blaydes has since made it clear that he disagrees with the judges’ judgment.

Believed He Had Done Enough Blaydes

Speaking to the press after the incident, Blaydes said he was shocked by the announcement of the scorecards. Blaydes thought the referee should have raised his hand since he thought he had performed well and deserved the win.

Curtis replied that he was surprised by the decision and that he thought he had done enough in the three rounds to win. To him, the foot battle was very close, but he should have won with his grappling and wrestling.

He walked out of the cage frustrated, convinced the judges missed the moments that mattered most. In his mind, the control time, the pressure, and the wrestling exchanges should have sealed it. Instead, he’s left replaying every scramble, wondering how a fight he believed he managed slipped through his fingers.

Wrestling Was the Key Argument

Blaydes says that the blows were fairly balanced, both heavyweights having periods of success. Nonetheless, he highlighted that his performance was different as he could apply wrestling, unlike Josh Hokit. He indicated that although Hokit could not always secure his own offense, he could always secure takedowns and control positions at key moments.

In Blaydes’ case, the scorecards should have placed greater emphasis on the difference in grappling effectiveness.The comments from Blaydes suggest he thinks the UFC judges cared more about damage and stand-up exchanges than about control and wrestling success in the fight.

To him, that imbalance cuts to the heart of the problem. If control, top pressure, and positional dominance don’t carry weight on the cards, then wrestlers are fighting uphill before the cage door even shuts. Blaydes walked out feeling like the criteria shifted under his feet, and that’s a hard reality for any fighter who builds his game on grappling fundamentals.

A Tough Fight

Both fighters delivered heavy punches and kicks throughout, making for a really exciting, back-and-forth battle that kept the fans interested. Blaydes’ face was hurt in the fight, revealing that he got hurt around his eye and broke his nose during UFC 327.

With those injuries, he said he was feeling better just a few days after the fight. He said he initially needed pain medication but began feeling better soon afterward. Blaydes also said that most of the damage he got was on his face, but the rest of his body was okay.

He called it a scare more than a setback, the kind of damage that looks worse than it feels once the adrenaline wears off. By midweek, he was already back to light movement, insisting nothing would linger into his next camp. For Blaydes, it was a reminder of how quickly a fight can leave its mark without doing any real long‑term harm.

Broken Nose May Have Affected The Judges

Blaydes thinks that one of the reasons the judges made their decision was because of the blood from his broken nose. He thinks a punch in the round probably broke his nose, which made it bleed for a lot of the fight.

In close fights, visible damage can sometimes shape perception, even when other aspects such as wrestling or control are competitive. Blaydes seems to think that this is what happened when the judges were watching the fight.

Even though Blaydes is disappointed with the result, his fight reminded many fans why he is still the best competitor in the heavyweight division. He showed that he is tough, has a pace, and is good at wrestling in a fight that fans love to watch.

For Hokit, winning this fight is a deal, and it makes people think he is a serious competitor in a tough division. For Blaydes, losing this fight might be upsetting. His performance in Miami means he is still one of the top heavyweights in the UFC.

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