Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson made a convincing transition to combined martial arts on September 12, 2025, securing a technical knockout victory in simply 98 seconds at Legacy Combating Alliance (LFA) 217 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Dealing with Braden Peterson, Steveson executed a textbook single-leg takedown earlier than unleashing ground-and-pound strikes that pressured the referee to halt the competition at 1:38 of the primary spherical.
Gable Steveson MMA Debut
Steveson, 25, arrived at the cage with an extensive amateur wrestling résumé. He claimed gold in men’s freestyle heavyweight at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned back-to-back NCAA Division I titles at the University of Minnesota, where he was also twice honored with the Dan Hodge Trophy and named an All-American on five occasions. Following his collegiate career, he explored stints with WWE and a brief tenure as a defensive lineman for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, but ultimately settled on MMA, training alongside former UFC champion Jon Jones at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas.
Olympic freestyle gold medalist Gable Steveson quickly dispatches Braden Peterson in the first round of his MMA debut.
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From the opening bell, Steveson imposed his wrestling pedigree. He shot for a single-leg takedown, shortly bringing Peterson to the canvas and establishing prime management. As soon as grounded, he transitioned seamlessly between elbows and heavy punches, edging right into a dominant place. Peterson supplied minimal protection as Steveson landed a flurry of strikes that compelled the stoppage.
Jon Jones, seated cageside and cornering Steveson, witnessed the previous Olympic champion’s debut firsthand. After the struggle, Jones praised Steveson’s adaptability and work ethic, noting that his protégé had embraced the technical and strategic calls for of MMA coaching.
Steveson’s arrival in the professional ranks drew immediate comparisons to Brock Lesnar, a fellow NCAA wrestling champion turned UFC heavyweight titleholder who followed a similar path through pro wrestling and the NFL before establishing his legacy in MMA. Analysts are already speculating on how shortly Steveson would possibly ascend to the UFC roster, given his decisive debut and high-level athletic background.
Legacy Fighting Alliance has long served as a proving ground for future UFC contenders. Steveson’s speedy end at Mystic Lake On line casino underscores LFA’s function in showcasing elite wrestling skills and highlights the promotion’s observe report in feeding prime prospects into the UFC pipeline.
With a 1-0 professional record, Steveson has set a clear trajectory for his MMA career. His next steps will likely involve facing increasingly seasoned opponents to test his evolving striking, submission defense, and pacing over longer fights. For now, the Olympic champion has signaled his potential as a heavyweight to watch, demonstrating that his wrestling foundation can translate into a winning formula under MMA rules.
