Kody Steele found his finishing touch to steal the show early at UFC 333, dropping Noah Gugnon with a right hand that led to a knockout in the first round. The always scrappy Steele went toe-to-toe with Gugnon at Saturday’s event in Abu Dhabi, getting the better of the striking to secure the win.
Grappler Turns Striker, And It Paid Off
Steele joined the UFC in 2025 with an accomplished grappling background. But since transitioning to MMA, he has been more than happy to throw hands with the opposition, and we saw that front and center against Gugnon. Steele did mix in wrestling to try and put Gugnon on the mat, showing off those roots. However, once Gugnon started to land his own strikes, Steele couldn’t help but start trading. And boy, did it work out for him.
The First Round Finish and the Call For Cash
The knockout blow landed at the 3:54 mark of the opening round, a clean finish that left no doubt. After the fight, Steele was hyped, and he had a clear message for everyone listening. “I was in the back, I was like, ‘I’m going to light this fool up with my right hand,’” Steele said in his post-fight interview, showing that confidence was boiling over. He didn’t stop there, though, immediately setting his sights on the big bonus: “Like I said, I want that money. I want that $100K, come on, put it in my bank account, let’s go.” This dominant performance pushes Steele’s record to an impressive 9-1. He’s been on a tear recently, coming off a slick inverted heel hook submission against Dom Mar Fan in May, and now has finished six of his past seven opponents.
With another dominant first-round finish and a clear goal stated for that bonus money, Steele is absolutely one to watch in the UFC. What’s next for the 9-1 fighter after this emphatic victory? He’s making a serious statement every time he steps into the octagon, and he’s letting the league know exactly what he’s looking for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply