Gable Steveson hasn’t even reached his fourth MMA fight, but he already believes he belongs in the conversation with the UFC’s elite.
As Gable Steveson prepares for his third professional bout at Mexican Fight League 3 on Thursday night, the Olympic gold medalist continues to generate serious buzz. With dominant finishes in his first two appearances—both ending in under three minutes combined, Steveson has quickly become one of the most talked-about heavyweight prospects in combat sports and he isn’t shying away from bold statements.
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Gable Steveson made it clear that he believes he can already compete with the top names in the UFC heavyweight division.
“Those three big names — Pereira, Aspinall, Gane — I can compete with most definitely,” Steveson said.
“Especially right now. But if you keep giving me time, the gap will keep coming in with the youthfulness that I have, with those guys being a little older.”
That’s a confident claim considering Steveson is only 25 years old and just a few fights into his MMA career. But confidence has never been an issue for the decorated wrestler.
As an Olympic gold medalist and multiple-time NCAA champion, Gable Steveson enters MMA with one of the most accomplished wrestling pedigrees the sport has ever seen. His elite grappling already poses a stylistic threat to established heavyweights, and UFC CEO Dana White and commentator Joe Rogan have both publicly praised his potential.
Some observers have even labeled him a possible “savior” for a heavyweight division that critics say lacks fresh contenders. Steveson, however, doesn’t feel burdened by the expectations.
“There’s no pressure,” Steveson said. “I’ve been in those big spots before. I’ve been in a lot of places where it’s like, ‘Can Gable do it?’ And I’ve done it. I’ve kind of rewritten a lot of things for myself. There’s no pressure. It’s just another day. We show up and we are trained for pressure. Pressure makes diamonds.”
Despite the hype, Gable Steveson continues to approach the division with respect.
“What do I think about the heavyweight division? There’s a lot of fantastic fighters,” Steveson said. “I’ve got nothing bad to say about anybody. I come with respect. I come with great words for everybody, but I also come with power, I come with domination, I come with timing, I come with speed. I come with youthfulness and I come as Gable Steveson to create my own path.”
The UFC heavyweight landscape currently sits in a holding pattern. Champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined following eye surgery after his fight with Ciryl Gane ended in controversy. The contender queue appears thin, and new blood is badly needed.
With a win on Thursday, Steveson would move to 3-0, and speculation about a UFC call-up will only intensify. He has already hinted at the possibility of debuting on the upcoming UFC White House card in June, though he remains measured about what’s next.
“We just wait and see,” Steveson said. “It could be [the UFC after this fight]. I can’t tell you. I don’t know myself. I do know, but I don’t know. We’re focused on Thursday.
“We’re focused on going out there, having the best time of our lives like we always have, dominate, go back home and then we’ll see who calls.”
For now, Gable Steveson continues to build momentum one fight at a time. But if he keeps winning in dominant fashion, the conversation about whether he belongs with the UFC’s best heavyweights may shift from bold prediction to immediate reality.
