Gable Steveson Shines With Explosive MMA Debut Victory
Gable Steveson’s long-awaited step into the MMA cage finally happened, and it didn’t just meet expectations—it blew right past them. On September 12th, at LFA 217, the Olympic gold medalist and former NCAA wrestling powerhouse made his professional mixed martial arts debut, and the performance was nothing short of dominant.
At just 25 years old, Steveson has already lived several athletic lifetimes. He collected multiple NCAA Division I titles with the University of Minnesota, captured Olympic gold for Team USA in 2020, briefly pursued a shot with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and even had a stint in the WWE. But the next chapter was always looming. Wrestling may have been his foundation, but combat sports seemed destined to become his true stage.
The fight itself was over in a flash. Facing Branden Peterson in the heavyweight co-main event, Steveson wasted no time in putting his world-class wrestling to work. Within 15 seconds, he shot for a takedown and planted Peterson firmly on the canvas. From there, the control was absolute. The Olympic champion kept heavy pressure, raining down strikes with precision and power. A barrage of unanswered shots forced the referee to step in, ending the contest just 99 seconds into the first round.
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The crowd erupted, and perhaps the loudest praise came from Jon Jones, the former UFC heavyweight champion who was in Steveson’s corner. Jones, who has been mentoring and training alongside him in Albuquerque, couldn’t contain his excitement, declaring, “A star was born tonight.” Coming from one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, that statement carried real weight.
Fans quickly echoed the sentiment across social media. Comments poured in about Steveson being “more impressive than most UFC heavyweights” and predictions that his UFC debut might not be far away. For many, this debut was a confirmation of what had long been suspected: Steveson’s athletic gifts and competitive drive could translate into greatness inside the cage.
The victory also comes after a winding journey of self-discovery. Steveson has admitted that, in his early twenties, he was pulled in a dozen directions—NFL, pro wrestling, even joking about soccer. But maturity has sharpened his focus. As he put it himself, there comes a time when you have to pick one grand thing and pour everything into it. For him, MMA now looks like that singular pursuit.
What makes this moment even more compelling is the sacrifice behind it. Steveson has spent most of his life giving up normal experiences—weekends with friends, social outings, downtime—to chase excellence. That discipline took him to the top of wrestling and now could push him toward similar heights in MMA.
His debut left no doubt: Steveson is not here to dabble. He’s here to dominate. And with Jones and a team of elite coaches guiding him, the ceiling feels limitless. One fight in, he’s already sparked the belief that the sport’s next heavyweight star may have just arrived.
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