The heavyweight division just got slightly more interesting. Curtis Blaydes is about to return to the octagon when he faces Josh Hokit at UFC 327 on April 11, an event airing on Paramount+. The matchup adds one other compelling layer to an already stacked card and puts certainly one of the division’s most experienced grapplers back under the intense lights.
Curtis Blaydes will Josh Hokit at #UFC327 on April eleventh. #UFC #MMA #UFCParamount #UFConParamount #UFC2026 pic.twitter.com/Y58tBHWuNf
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) February 24, 2026
“Razo” Blaydes has long been one of the crucial technically gifted heavyweights within the UFC roster. His wrestling pedigree is virtually unmatched at 265 kilos, a relentless pressure fighter who has dismantled opponents together with his takedown game and ground-and-pound. Despite a handful of setbacks against elite competition, Blaydes consistently proves he belongs near the highest of the division. A dominant showing at UFC 327 could re-enter his name into the title conversation, which is at all times where “Razor” believes he ought to be.
Hokit, alternatively, enters this fight with something to prove on the largest stage. Facing a seasoned veteran like Blaydes is not any small task, but high-stakes matchups are exactly what speed up careers in MMA. If Hokit can pull off an upset against certainly one of the division’s premier wrestlers, his trajectory changes overnight. That form of pressure-cooker environment is where reputations are either built or buried.
FIRST ROUND FINISH FOR JOSH HOKIT 👊 #UFCVegas111 pic.twitter.com/wnP25AgPoD
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 8, 2025
UFC 327 airing on Paramount signals the promotion’s continued push to expand its mainstream television footprint, and booking a recognizable name like Blaydes in a high-stakes heavyweight bout matches that strategy perfectly. Heavyweight fights consistently draw casual fans, and this matchup should deliver fireworks whether it stays standing or hits the mat.
With April 11 approaching, expect training camp updates, trash talk, and fight-week storylines to heat up quickly around this one.