Curtis Blaydes sustained significant facial injuries following his three-round battle with Josh Hokit at UFC 327 in Miami on Sunday.
Both heavyweights were transported to a local Miami hospital after the fight for precautionary reasons. Blaydes was diagnosed with a fractured orbital bone and a broken nose, according to his management team, which confirmed the injuries to MMA Fighting following an initial report from MMA Junkie.
Blaydes has been released from the hospital and is expected to return home to Colorado soon to begin his recovery.
All three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Josh Hokit after a high-output clash in which the heavyweights combined for over 350 strikes landed and more than 640 thrown. The performance earned Blaydes and Hokit Fight of the Night honors, with Blaydes receiving an extra $100,000.
The defeat drops Blaydes to 2-3 over his past five fights, a stretch that includes an interim title fight against Tom Aspinall in 2024.
