Steveson Transitions to MMA After WWE Departure

Gable Steveson, the Olympic wrestling champion, has announced his entry into mixed martial arts (MMA). He is scheduled to make his debut next month at LFA 217.

The gold medalist from the Tokyo Olympics in the super heavyweight division will be competing against Braden Peterson in a heavyweight match. The Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) event will take place in Minnesota on September 12.

Steveson is now among Olympic wrestlers such as Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier, who have successfully made the shift to MMA, a sport where grappling skills are crucial.

In a recent interview, Steveson expressed his ambitions beyond just participating, aiming to create a significant impact.

Steveson’s Aspiration

“My main objective is to achieve the highest level of success,” Steveson stated.

“Consider figures like Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Khamzat Chimaev, and Daniel Cormier. They leveraged their wrestling backgrounds to achieve prominence in this field. I aspire to follow in their footsteps.”

Following his victory in Tokyo, the 25-year-old signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He made several appearances before his release in 2024.

Steveson also briefly pursued a career in American football.

In May 2024, he joined the NFL’s Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent defensive tackle. However, he was released three months later, failing to secure a spot on the team’s final roster.

As a two-time NCAA heavyweight champion from the University of Minnesota, Steveson is now completely focused on MMA. His goal is to emulate the success of wrestling icons in the octagon.