Gable Steveson says a move to the UFC could be “any day now” as the Olympic gold medalist builds momentum in his early mixed martial arts career. He remains active in both MMA and wrestling while aiming for a future shot at the UFC heavyweight title.
Fast start in mixed martial arts
Steveson made his MMA debut last September and has quickly put together a 3-0 record. All three wins came in the first round, showing his power and his wrestler’s ability to finish fights. His most recent win came in February when he scored a first-round knockout of Hugo Lezama after overcoming some adversity in the fight.
Earlier in his short career, Steveson also recorded a 15-second knockout of Billy Swanson while fighting under the Dirty Boxing banner. Those quick finishes have made him one of the most talked-about young heavyweights in the sport.
Return to wrestling with RAF
Even as he focuses on MMA, the 25-year-old signed with Real American Freestyle (RAF) to keep wrestling in his schedule. He told reporters he has “a couple of matches with RAF” and that the wrestling dates are meant to keep his skills sharp.
Steveson said he is still a full-time mixed martial artist and that wrestling is a way to show fans he can still perform at a high level on the mat. He added that proving himself in wrestling will only help his long-term MMA goals.
UFC hopes: “Any day now”
In a recent interview, Steveson suggested a UFC opportunity could be close. He said, “I told everybody I’m a full-time mixed martial artist, and I would love to keep doing that. But I got good news, any day now.”
He made it clear the UFC title is his ultimate target. “I’ll show people that I’m great at wrestling, I’ll show people I’m one of the best heavyweights of all time. But the UFC title is more important to me,” Steveson said.
For now, he is balancing wrestling matches with MMA fights as he waits for the right moment to join the UFC. His combination of Olympic-level wrestling and improving striking makes him an intriguing prospect for the heavyweight division.
Recent results
Below are the most important recent results involving Steveson and the opponents mentioned in his early MMA career.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Gable Steveson | 3-0 MMA record; all three wins by first-round finish |
| Hugo Lezama | Lost to Steveson by first-round knockout in February |
| Billy Swanson | Lost to Steveson by 15-second knockout (Dirty Boxing event) |
Steveson’s path forward looks clear: keep improving, stay active in wrestling to sharpen his strengths, and prepare for a likely move to the UFC when the opportunity arrives.
