Kody Steele met the media Saturday after his win over Noah Gugnon at UFC 333.
Steele (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) took out Gugnon (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a first-round TKO on the prelims at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. His stoppage was the first one of the event in the Middle East.
Steele's finish was his second straight in the UFC after he debuted with a Fight of the Night decision loss to Rong Zhu in February 2025. Although neither of his 2026 wins warranted the big $100,000 bonuses, he picked up $25,000 finish bonuses for the wins.
Steele highlights, UFC 333
💥BRUTAL NOCAUT 💥
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) October 24, 2026
Vean y escuchen este nocaut de Kody Steele 😮💨@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | Ver en vivo por @PPlusDeportespic.twitter.com/leohAauD6E
HANDS OF STEELE 🦾
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2026
Kody Steele leaves with the RD1 knockout!
[ #UFC333 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/7GGN9orlDR
Steele key quotes, UFC 333
“I think I got a little crazy, got a little wild. That's just me, though. I bring that animal inside. But I feel like I showed my improvements. I was there to go three rounds and go to war, but I also knew it wasn't going to make it that far. I'm happy to put his lights out.”
"I'm a well-rounded fighter. When we went to the ground, he wanted no business on the ground with me – and there's a reason for that. I wanted to come out this time, show my improvements, and I wanted to give everyone else something else to be scared about (at lightweight). I've got power in my hands, I have deadly submissions. I'm a force. I'm a prospect right now, but next year I'll be a contender. … Guys with sick names who put on sick fights would be dope. I want to do that."
Steele post-fight interview, UFC 333
"I am a force. I'm a prospect right now, but next year I'll be a contender."
— UFC News (@UFCNews) October 24, 2026
Kody Steele locks up his second finish of 2026 as he looks to continue his climb up the lightweight division
Prelim Results ➡️ https://t.co/0NvPvKZsLT@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabipic.twitter.com/He4RSngowp
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Kody Steele wants 'sick' names for 'dope' fights after UFC 333