Gable Steveson, exploded onto the world stage in 2021 when the Minnesota phenom won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling (125 kg) with a dramatic last-second takedown. A two-time NCAA champion for the Golden Gophers, he briefly flirted with WWE (one televised match) and the NFL, signing with the Buffalo Bills in May 2024, but was released later on before the start of the regular season.
Jon Jones, the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight king and considered as one of, if not, the greatest of all time, has shown a lot of interest in Steveson’s development as a fighter. After Steveson sharpened Jones’ wrestling for the 2024 Stipe Miocic title defense, Jones declared, “I found my guy.” He now mentors Steveson, co-owns the Dirty Boxing promotion where Steveson headlines, and stands in his corner for every fight.
Jones Jones recently revealed why he’s after Gable Steveson’s development and why he has spent so much time mentoring him. In a recent interview with Boxing Bureau, Jones said, “He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in an athlete. I mean, he’s 25 years old, he comes from a wrestling background, he’s an Olympic gold medalist, he has prefect work ethic. And he’s drug-free… He’s just so committed.”
Jones continued to rave about Steveson, “He’s the perfect athlete. Everything we talk about, he remembers. Every combination, he has multiple coaches working with him right now, and he’s just a sponge. He reminds me a lot of myself, when I was 25 years old, just a lot more disciplined.”
Gable Steveson just KO’ed Billy Swanson in 15 seconds at Dirty Boxing, with Jon Jones cageside, nailing the exact combo he predicted. Just like UFC heavyweight champ, Tom Aspinall, Steveson’s 6’1″, explosive, and finishes fast, and unlike him, he’s 265 lbs of pure wrestling muscle.
UFC’s heavyweight division needs an American star, and Steveson’s the right person for the job. A UFC contract could likely come his way soon, with his star growing exponentially. If Dana White offers a contract, Steveson could be the next American star that dominates the heavyweight division, with Jon Jones at his side.
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