Curtis Blaydes gets honest about "major impostor syndrome", Trevor Wittman advises him before Noche UFC return

Curtis Blaydes has opened up about dealing with impostor syndrome despite having competed at the elite level in the UFC for over a decade. 

Legendary MMA coach Trevor Wittman -- the founder of ONX Sports and a man who's guided the likes of Kamaru Usman and Justin Gaethje to UFC championship glory -- has weighed in on Blaydes's predicament. 

Trevor Wittman praises Curtis Blaydes, who opens up about his battle with impostor syndrome

In a recent edition of ONX Sports' What Hones You Show podcast, Trevor Wittman and Luke Caudillo spoke with perennial UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes.

Wittman alluded to Blaydes's appreciation for reigning UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who became the first to defeat the great Ilia Topuria, whom he stopped via fourth-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The combat sports trainer indicated that Blaydes, who is himself a longtime mixed martial artist and fought the who's who of the UFC, could similarly achieve his dream of finally winning a UFC championship. 

Wittman even hailed Blaydes as a "legend," citing his longevity in the dangerous UFC heavyweight division. He also harked back to the towering heavyweight's three-round war against the unbeaten heavyweight star Josh Hokit, particularly encouraging him to make a triumphant comeback from that defeat. 

Moreover, Wittman appeared to advise Blaydes to believe in himself. He emphasized that "Razor" has the requisite skill set and is a gifted athlete, so much so that he could not only become the UFC heavyweight champion but also enter the UFC Hall of Fame. 

It's noteworthy that Blaydes has often been lauded for being quite vocal about the bullying he's faced for his stutter and spreading public awareness of how he's learned to overcome the challenges it entails. Wittman suggested that the UFC staple mustn't let perceived shortcomings or doubts stop him from being the fierce competitor he is inside the Octagon. 

Blaydes notably opened up about his battle with self-doubt, revealing that he's afflicted with impostor syndrome. For context, impostor syndrome is often described as a psychological experience characterized by self-doubt, wherein the individual questions their skills and accomplishments, as well as fears that they'll be exposed as an impostor/fraud.

Well, Blaydes noted, "I have major impostor syndrome." 

On his part, Wittman advised the 35-year-old fighter to set the loss against Hokit aside and realize his true potential. The coach said: 

"It's one of the best fights I've ever f**king witnessed. No doubt. Like, I love f**king heavyweight fights that are great because the Thunder's just there. Make something more special is what I would say. Is it going to be in there? My hard critique on you? Who f**king cares? Go make something special." 

Watch Curtis Blaydes and Trevor Wittman's moving discussion below (*comments at the 1:42:00-minute mark of the video): 

Curtis Blaydes faces Waldo Cortes-Acosta at Noche UFC 4 after fight rescheduling

Curtis Blaydes made his professional MMA debut back in 2014 and has competed against some of the very best in the UFC since 2016. A key point Trevor Wittman highlighted, which he implied was Blaydes's strength, is his ability to bounce back from defeats. 

Speaking of which, Blaydes is looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss against Josh Hokit in April. Presently, Blaydes stands at the No. 10 spot in the UFC heavyweight division, according to the official Meta UFC rankings. 

Blaydes was to face the No. 7-ranked Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 331. Nevertheless, that matchup was rescheduled to transpire a week earlier, and Blaydes is now booked to fight Cortes-Acosta at Noche UFC 4 on September 12. Interestingly, "Razor" is one apiece in the UFC with reigning UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.