Steveson publicly said Hokit is “not on the same level” in either wrestling or fighting, escalating talk of a future heavyweight clash between the two Jackson-Wink affiliates in Albuquerque.
The Olympic gold medalist argued he had never faced Hokit in meaningful wrestling competition and mocked his credentials by saying Bo Nickal could pin Hokit but not him.
Steveson also urged Hokit to drop to 205 pounds, saying a true heavyweight run would end with someone like himself disrupting him before he could reach the top.
Hokit pushed the other way just a night earlier, posting on X that he plans to stay at heavyweight and chase gold plus “Baddest-Man-on-the-Planet” status.
The remarks land hours before UFC 329, where Steveson enters his debut against Elisha Ellison as the promotion’s biggest betting favorite, a win that could accelerate any matchup talk.