'The ouch that runs his mouth': Hokit roars into MMA heavyweight rankings

Q: What was the outcome of the fight between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327?

Josh Hokit won the fight against Curtis Blaydes by unanimous decision.

Q: How did Josh Hokit’s victory affect the heavyweight rankings?

Following his victory, Josh Hokit moved up to No. 7 in the heavyweight rankings, while Curtis Blaydes fell from No. 3 to No. 9.

Q: What significant changes occurred in the light heavyweight rankings after UFC 327?

Carlos Ulberg won the vacant light heavyweight title by knocking out Jiří Procházka, leading to a swap in their rankings, with Ulberg moving up and Procházka dropping down.

Josh Hokit showed on Saturday that his WWE-style character can be a high-level fighter. He put on a fight of the night performance by defeating onetime heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. The two put on a slugfest for the ages, combining for a division-record 351 significant strikes. As a result of winning by unanimous decision, the undefeated Hokit finds himself at No. 7 in ESPN's heavyweight top 10. Blaydes falls from No. 3 to No. 9.

UFC 327 prompted an abundance of changes in the rankings, many at light heavyweight. In the main event, Carlos Ulberg knocked out Jiří Procházka to win the vacant 205-pound title, and the two fighters swapped places in the top 10. In addition, Paulo Costa enters the light heavyweight top 10 at No. 6 after knocking out previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov, who slips one spot to No. 7. The Costa entry also pushes Dominick Reyes down a spot to No. 8, despite his split decision win over Johnny Walker on Saturday.

At lightweight, Mateusz Gamrot scored a submission win over Esteban Ribovics and moves up a spot to No. 9, leapfrogging Paddy Pimblett. At featherweight, Patricio Pitbull lost a unanimous decision to Aaron Pico and falls from the top 10, as do Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez, who has not fought for over a year and is now ineligible for the rankings. Replacing them are Jean Silva, Steve Garcia and Arnold Allen.

In a battle of top-10 strawweights, Tatiana Suarez submitted Loopy Godínez and moves up one spot to No. 4, replacing the ineligible Yan Xiaonan. Because Yan is out, Godinez actually moves up a place to No. 7 despite her loss. Amanda Ribas enters the rankings.

Here are the ESPN pound-for-pound MMA rankings and a list of current UFC champions in all weight classes.

Results are current; rankings as of April 14. To be eligible for the rankings, a fighter must have competed over the past 12 months or must have an upcoming fight booked. Fighters who have been dropped for inactivity can be reinstated only after they compete.