CHIBA, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: Gable Steveson Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Gable Steveson has tried almost everything when it comes to maximizing the usage of his next-level athletic gifts. He’ll be checking another thing off his list next month when he makes his MMA debut against Braden Peterson with the Legacy Fighting Alliance.
The event will take place in Steveson’s hometown of Minnesota where he also shined as a collegiate wrestler.
Steveson, 25, has trained with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones at Jackson Wink in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He announced his intentions to pursue a career in the UFC months ago. This fight in LFA is a major step in the right direction.
Steveson’s debut is officially set for LFA 217 on Friday, September 12, at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass, further cementing the promotion’s role as one of the top pipelines for UFC talent.
A 2020 Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion at Minnesota, Steveson enters MMA with one of the most decorated wrestling résumés of his generation.
CHIBA, JAPAN – AUGUST 06: Gold medalist Gable Dan Steveson of Team United States poses with the gold medal during the Men’s Freestyle 125kg medal ceremony on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Makuhari Messe Hall on August 06, 2021 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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He also collected five All-American honors and two Dan Hodge Trophy awards before transitioning into the pros.
Following a brief stint with WWE’s developmental system—where he was released in 2024—and even a preseason opportunity with the Buffalo Bills, Steveson is now fully invested in a fighting career.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: Gable Steveson #61 of the Buffalo Bills walks off the field after Buffalo Bills mandatory mini camp on June 13, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
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Peterson, 37 whose nickname is Bloodaxe, has just one pro fight. However, he did earn a 14-second TKO in his professional debut. So from an experience level, Steveson is being thrown into the cage with someone on his level.
LFA has proven to be one of the UFC’s top pipelines for prospects. Multiple LFA alums have made excellent careers for themselves in the UFC including Derrick Lewis and Sean O’Malley. There’s an entire YouTube playlist dedicated to the pipeline.
Recent alumni, Bia Mesquita signed directly to the UFC after a 5-0 start to her career with the last four fights coming under the LFA banner. A strong showing here could accelerate Steveson’s timeline toward the Octagon in a similar way.
The past year has been a busy one for Steveson. He’s been training at several prominent gyms including Syndicate MMA. Sharpening skills under Jones’ mentorship in Albuquerque only adds to the intrigue surrounding the start of his career.
Based on pure athleticism and top-notch wrestling, Steveson is likely to experience a ton of early success. It will take him somewhere between 7 to 10 fights before he runs into a heavyweight with sufficient takedown defense to test his striking. Once that happens, we’ll find out what kind of MMA prospect we have in Steveson.
Until then, he should quickly become one of the hottest heavyweight MMA prospects in the world. While Steveson seems hellbent on landing with the UFC, don’t be surprised to see the PFL kick the tires on a potential signing with the accomplished young athlete.
He could raise his MMA profile even higher if he lands a huge deal with PFL and then moves on to the UFC later–just as reigning women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison did.
Stay tuned, as this is likely only the beginning of an intriguing MMA journey and the next chapter in Steveson’s interesting athletic journey,