Gable Steveson responds to Josh Hokit after dominant UFC 329 debut

Gable Steveson made an impressive UFC debut at UFC 329, defeating Elisha Ellison in dominating fashion inside the opening round. Fresh off the victory, Steveson addressed the brewing rivalry with Josh Hokit, another elite heavyweight prospect who has climbed to a top-10 ranking in just four UFC fights.

Hokit had recently fired back at Steveson on social media, issuing a colorful warning. "Remember, this ain't wrestling," Hokit wrote. "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." Hokit also name-checked Jon Jones, Steveson's training partner, and expressed his intention to clear out the heavyweight division by 2027 while demanding a title shot against Ciryl Gane.

When asked to respond, Steveson remained measured and dismissive of the theatrics. "Like I said, I like Josh as a fighter. Josh is a character. Josh wants to make sure people follow him on Instagram or follow him on Twitter. I go out there and dominate. I go out there and win," Steveson said. He added that a potential fight with Hokit would happen "if the time comes" and "if he doesn't move down before that."

Steveson also discussed the heavyweight landscape, naming interim champion Ciryl Gane and undisputed champion Tom Aspinall as future targets. He praised Gane as "a fantastic fighter" and "one of my favorite fighters in the heavyweight division," but made clear his focus remains on his next opponent rather than looking too far ahead. "Ciryl Gane is in the foreseeable future, but he's not in the next fight," Steveson explained, underscoring his methodical approach to climbing the heavyweight ranks.