Kody Steele James Lynch interview on UFC 333 and his next fight

In the Kody Steele James Lynch interview, Steele said he expected to finish his UFC 333 opponent within two rounds and did it in the first. Speaking with Lynch after the fight in Abu Dhabi, he also said he has no next opponent in mind but intends to stay ready, including for a possible return in January or February. He offered picks for several upcoming fights and described a car driving into his gym in Vegas.

How did Kody Steele finish his UFC 333 fight in Abu Dhabi?

Kody Steele expected an aggressive fight at UFC 333 and believed he would finish his opponent in the first or second round. The finish came in the first. His opponent landed a few jabs, but Steele said he found his range and was then ready to engage.

Expecting a finish within two rounds

Steele said his opponent was strong, big and technically sound on the feet. He had watched the opponent fight and expected sharp striking, so the jabs that landed did not surprise him. Steele described those exchanges as part of the process of finding each other’s range.

He also expected the opponent to come forward. Steele said the fighter was tough and aggressive, and believed that approach would produce a fight that could not last to a decision. Explaining his expectation before the bout, Steele put it this way:

there's definitely no chance that we were going to go to a decision or even make it to the third round

Steele’s first visit to Abu Dhabi

The trip was Steele’s first time in Abu Dhabi. He had long wanted to go and thought jiu-jitsu might eventually take him there. Instead, he made the trip for an MMA fight and said he enjoyed the place.

On the long flight, Steele mixed preparation with downtime. He watched training rounds, reviewed notes and studied a little to keep his preparation clear in his mind. He also watched movies, slept when he could and played games on his phone.

What did Kody Steele say about Alex Volkanovski’s win?

Kody Steele praised Alex Volkanovski’s win for the gap he appeared to create against an undefeated opponent. Steele said Volkanovski made a good fighter look much less effective and singled out his footwork, combinations, setups and stance changes as signs of how complete his game is.

Watching the main event on the same card, Steele was struck by how sharp Volkanovski looked. To him, making a capable opponent struggle is a stronger demonstration of skill than looking good against someone who was never expected to compete at that level.

Steele pointed to the different looks Volkanovski gives opponents. He described a fighter who changes stances, moves well and puts together clean combinations while setting up his attacks. Lynch also raised Volkanovski’s wins over Max Holloway when discussing where this performance might rank, but Steele focused his answer on what he saw in the latest fight.

When does Kody Steele expect his next fight?

Kody Steele does not have a next opponent or a confirmed date. He said he keeps his weight down so he can answer a call to fight, and expects to be ready in January or February if that is when an opportunity comes. His immediate priority is staying healthy through training.

Steele described UFC booking as unpredictable: a call could come quickly, later than expected or not at all. Although Lynch mentioned UFC 335 in December as a possible card, Steele did not say he had been booked for it. He thought many of the remaining cards were already fairly full.

Asked whom he wanted next, Steele did not name anyone. Rather than build a plan around a particular matchup, he said he would be ready for whatever came. He expects to fight again soon, provided his body recovers and he can train without setting himself back.

What were Kody Steele’s picks for UFC 335 and other upcoming fights?

Kody Steele picked Diego Lopez over Charles Olivero in the UFC 335 discussion and favored Josh Hockett against Cyril gone. He also leaned toward Navajo Sterling against Yuri Prohaska. Steele was less certain about Joshua van against Benel cop, calling that matchup too close for a firm pick.

Diego Lopez and the UFC 335 matchups

Steele backed Lopez in the matchup with Olivero because he likes what Lopez has done on UFC cards and does not expect a major size difference between them. He called Lopez a big fighter at 145 pounds and said he had seen both men before.

For the proposed Alex prayer and Sergey Pavlovich fight, Steele hoped prayer would win, while acknowledging how imposing Pavlovich looks to him. Those were preferences and predictions, not claims that either result was certain.

Josh Hockett and the other title-fight picks

Steele chose Hockett over Cyril gone, saying he studies Hockett’s fighting style and expects him to impose it. He described Prohaska as one of his favorite fighters because of his unorthodox approach, but suggested Sterling’s crisp striking and current run could give him the edge.

He declined to separate Joshua van and Benel cop, saying he liked both. In the proposed interim welterweight title fight with Michael Morales, Steele leaned toward Carlos, citing his experience and composure while acknowledging Morales’s striking ability. He expected that matchup to be a striking battle.

What happened at Kody Steele’s gym after a car drove into it?

Kody Steele said a car drove into his gym in Vegas, but nobody was seriously hurt. He understood that the driver may have pressed the gas instead of the brake or reverse. By the time Steele discussed the damage, the affected windows and wall had been patched while repairs were being arranged.

Steele said the driver was an older man, though he was not certain exactly how the mistake happened. Lynch asked about a report that someone at reception had hurt his foot. Steele’s answer was that everyone was okay and that no injury was too serious.

The disruption came as Steele was easing back into training after his win. He planned to help teammates preparing for fights, watch their work, hit pads lightly and spend time on strength and conditioning until his body was fully ready for harder sessions.

What did Kody Steele plan to eat after UFC 333?

Kody Steele did not leave the UFC 333 fight with one overwhelming food craving. He mentioned pizza, smash burgers, sushi and ribeye steaks as possibilities, but said he would most likely grill steaks at home. He had not visited many Vegas steakhouses because he finds them expensive.

Steele’s plans were modest alongside his return to light gym work. He said this camp had not produced the sort of craving that made one meal feel urgent, even after the demands of preparing for a fight and making weight.

When Lynch recommended T bones at red rock, Steele listened but returned to the option he usually prefers: buying steaks and cooking them at home. For now, he said he was enjoying some time off while waiting until he could train hard again.