Olympic Gold Medalist And Jon Jones’ Former Training Partner Sets Date For Highly Anticipated MMA Debut!

Wrestling has always been the foundation of mixed MMA. Fighters like Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov built their careers on elite wrestling skills before adding striking and submissions. The sport constantly searches for the next great wrestler who can make the jump to MMA and dominate a new generation of fighters. College wrestling programs across America produce incredible athletes, but only a few have what it takes to become MMA stars. When an Olympic gold medalist decides to try their hand at cage fighting, the entire combat sports world takes notice.

Gable Steveson represents everything fans want in a potential MMA prospect. The 25 year old captured Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games and won two NCAA Division 1 national championships at the University of Minnesota. He has trained alongside some of the biggest names in MMA during his amateur wrestling career. Steveson even spent time training with former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones, learning from one of the greatest fighters of all time. After brief stints with WWE professional wrestling and trying out for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, Steveson has finally decided to test his skills in MMA.

Gable Stevenson To Start In LFA

Stevenson will make his professional MMA debut on September 12 at Legacy Fight Alliance 217. This takes place at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The location couldn’t be more perfect since Steveson dominated college wrestling in the same state where he will start his MMA journey. LFA serves as one of the premier proving grounds for fighters hoping to reach the UFC.

🚨 Olympic champ Gable Steveson will be making his pro MMA debut at #LFA217 on September 12th

(per @LFAfighting) pic.twitter.com/3usmKjs63k
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 19, 2025

Steveson will compete in the heavyweight division against Braden Peterson, who already has one professional win under his belt. Peterson knocked out Chris Thompson in just 14 seconds at Montana’s Fusion Fight League back in July. While Peterson doesn’t have Steveson’s wrestling pedigree, he’s been active in MMA throughout 2025 with five amateur fights before turning professional. His amateur record shows four straight finishes before losing his final amateur bout.

The wrestling to MMA transition doesn’t always work out perfectly, but Steveson has all the tools to succeed. His Olympic level wrestling gives him an instant advantage over most heavyweights who struggle with takedown defense. Training with Jon Jones provided valuable insight into fight strategy and mental preparation that most prospects never receive. Steveson’s size and athleticism make him a natural heavyweight, though at 6’1” and around 265 pounds, he won’t be the biggest fighter in the division.

At 25, he has plenty of time to develop striking skills and submission techniques while maintaining his wrestling dominance. The heavyweight division has always been unpredictable, with one punch potentially changing any fight. But Steveson’s wrestling should keep him safe while he learns the other aspects of MMA. September 12 marks the beginning of what could be a very special fighting career!

(Image Credit: gable – Instagram)

Gable Stevenson

Jon Jones

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!