Josh Hokit did not hold back on Gable Steveson.
Steveson was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in 12 seconds at UFC 331 on September 19, one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Hokit, who also trains at Jackson Wink, fired back at Steveson on “The Ariel Helwani Show” for downplaying his wrestling in the past.
That boy Raple Sleepeson, we talking about that guy? … S—, he must have watched my fights and been like, ‘This s—‘s going to be easy.’ This s— ain’t sweet. This is a whole different game.
He wants to talk about my wrestling and all that other s—. This ain’t wrestling, and he had to learn that the hard way.
Hokit claimed he had heard Steveson was not training properly and blamed Steveson’s mentor, Jon Jones.
I heard he’s not practicing properly, and that’s due to Jon Jones. I heard he’s not even sparring and s—. What we doing, gang? This is a whole different sport. You’ve got to start from ground zero.
He also questioned Steveson for walking out of the Octagon before the result was read.
We’ll see if he’s doing it for the right reasons. If he’s just doing it for the clout and people talking about him and stuff like that. Even him walking out the cage. He’s walking out the cage and smiling, talking to people.
S—, if I lose, and if I happen to walk outside the cage, it’s like f— everybody. That’s just how I feel as a competitor.
Jones has taken responsibility for Steveson’s early exit, saying it was his call to get his fighter to the back.
Hokit, 10-0, earned a title shot by beating Curtis Blaydes and knocking out Derrick Lewis. He challenges Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title in the UFC 334 main event on November 14 at Madison Square Garden.
