Following his dominant debut win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Gable Steveson has addressed the recent comments made by Josh Hokit. Steveson secured a first-round technical knockout victory over Elisha Ellison at UFC 329, marking his fourth consecutive first-round finish and extending his professional record to 4-0. This performance has drawn a reaction from Hokit, who has issued threats towards Steveson and his mentor, Jon Jones.
Hokit, known as “The Incredible Hok,” shared a clip on social media from one of Steveson’s pre-fight interviews where Steveson questioned Hokit’s skills. Hokit then highlighted his own athletic achievements and advised both Steveson and Jones to avoid him. He emphasized that mixed martial arts is different from wrestling, stating, “If anyone signs up to face me in a fist fight, better have a good insurance policy. It will take your doctor time to put your face back together, unless you quit like the last guy I fought. This includes the guy [Jon Jones] that trains you. I’m the baddest man on the planet.”
Steveson responded to Hokit’s remarks during the UFC 329 post-fight press conference. He indicated that he and Hokit have different priorities in their careers. Steveson acknowledged Hokit as a fighter with character, suggesting that Hokit is focused on gaining social media followers. In contrast, Steveson stated his own focus is on dominating and winning his fights. He added that if the opportunity arises to fight Hokit, and Hokit does not move down in weight before then, he would welcome the matchup.
Steveson’s UFC Debut Performance
Steveson’s debut at UFC 329 saw him defeat Ellison on the undercard. While known for his wrestling background, Steveson demonstrated his striking abilities early in the fight. He landed leg kicks, showcasing the work he has put in with Jones in preparation for his mixed martial arts debut. One of these kicks inadvertently landed low before hitting Ellison’s waistline, leading to a brief pause in the fight for Ellison to recover.
Despite this, Steveson continued to display a varied striking skillset, ultimately finishing Ellison with a powerful left hand. While the performance was not deemed perfect, with some observers like Luke Thomas noting areas for improvement in Steveson’s defense, his potential was evident. Jones, who has been training Steveson, expressed his impressiveness with the debut.
Steveson is considered a highly anticipated prospect in the UFC. He is a two-time Division I national champion wrestler with a record of 103-3. He also holds an Olympic gold medal, which he won in the 125kg freestyle wrestling class at the 2020 Olympic Games. After initially pursuing professional wrestling with WWE, Steveson transitioned to mixed martial arts, bringing a 3-0 MMA record into his UFC debut.
Renowned MMA coach Greg Jackson, who has trained several past UFC champions including Jones, believes Steveson possesses the qualities to become a champion. Jackson highlighted the difficulty of winning a gold medal at the heavyweight level and an NCAA title, pointing to Steveson’s talent and championship mentality. Steveson’s athleticism and wrestling background, combined with his early success, have already generated championship discussions.
Path to the UFC
Steveson’s journey to the UFC included a surprising detour into professional football. In the spring of 2024, at the age of 24, he signed with the Buffalo Bills, playing football for the first time in his life. This move, which stunned many, saw him don a helmet and attempt to make the team as a defensive lineman. Although he did not make the final roster, his brief stint in the NFL showcased his exceptional athleticism and added to the anticipation surrounding his eventual arrival in the UFC.
Steveson reflected on this period at UFC Media Day, stating, “This was always the plan; I should’ve probably started with this plan at first. But things happen. You know, you end up in certain spots. You get into some hiccups and you gotta work your way out of them.” His NFL career consisted of three preseason games, during which he recorded three tackles and two quarterback hits. His first-ever football game was the Bills’ 2024 preseason opener, where he had a tackle and a quarterback pressure in 14 snaps.
Sean McDermott, then-Bills head coach, expressed his belief in the transferability of wrestling skills to football, particularly for offensive and defensive linemen. He acknowledged the unique challenge of Steveson starting from scratch without any prior football experience, even at the high school level. Despite the short football career, Steveson left an impression that carried over to his current head coach, Greg Jackson.
Jackson, one of the most celebrated trainers in MMA history, having coached champions like Rashad Evans, Carlos Condit, Holly Holm, George St-Pierre, and Jon Jones, spoke highly of Steveson. He urged fans to tune in to see what Steveson can achieve, emphasizing the difficulty of winning an Olympic gold medal at heavyweight in wrestling. Jackson praised Steveson’s unprecedented athletic ability, intelligence, and coachability, suggesting that he might redefine the sport.
Jones, whose brothers Chandler and Arthur played in the NFL, is actively involved in Steveson’s career. Steveson entered his fight against Ellison as a significant favorite. He embraces the hype and pressure, viewing it as part of his journey as a generational athlete. In his three previous MMA bouts, Steveson secured first-round stoppage victories, accumulating a total of 5 minutes and 52 seconds of cage time. He expressed his desire for his UFC debut to be “the Gable Steveson show,” promising a vicious victory and a dominating performance. Steveson’s debut at UFC 329 took place on July 12, 2026.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.