Gable Steveson is taking the first steps towards securing a UFC career.
After years of speculation and teases, Olympic gold medalist and NCAA wrestling phenom Gable Steveson is officially stepping into the cage. The former WWE signee has booked his professional MMA debut opposite Braden Peterson (1-0) at the LFA 217 event on Sept. 12 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. His opponent also built up a 4-1 amateur record before turning pro, though “Bloodaxe” has the disadvantage of being 12 years his opponents senior.
Gable Steveson has bounced around a lot between athletic pursuits since winning his Olympic gold medal. He tried to become a WWE star, which didn’t ultimately work out. Before long, he was lacing up cleats and trying to be a Buffalo Bill, which also didn’t last long! Since then, he’s returned to collegiate wrestling, where he suffered a massive upset in his attempt to become a three-time NCAA champion.
All the while, he’s been teasing a UFC career and was an important player in Jon Jones’ training camp for Stipe Miocic. Given his wrestling credentials and the lack of depth in the Heavyweight division, Stevenson could become a huge factor quickly … if he’s serious about his latest endeavor.
If not, we’ve seen plenty of elite wrestlers retreat to different career paths when the going gets tough in the cage.
