Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is aiming for another victory this weekend at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He is striving to become a three-time champion for the University of Minnesota.
Looking beyond wrestling, Steveson, who is 24, is considering a move to MMA, possibly after the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He recently took a significant step towards MMA by joining Jon Jones’ training camp to help prepare Jones for his fight against Stipe Miocic.
Steveson applies a championship mentality to all his athletic pursuits and plans to bring the same focus when he eventually transitions to MMA.
“I’m young and eager,” Steveson told MMA Fighting. “I want to be the best in everything I do.”
While many wrestlers have moved into MMA, their paths to success vary.
Bo Nickal, a three-time NCAA champion, has experienced remarkably fast progress in MMA since fully committing to the sport. He currently has a perfect 7-0 record, with four UFC wins. His next fight is scheduled for May against Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE Championship.
Despite the intense attention on him as a prospect with only seven professional fights, Nickal has thrived and is widely expected to win a UFC championship.
Steveson is impressed by Nickal’s achievements, seeing him as a role model for wrestlers entering MMA.
“Bo is exceptional,” Steveson said. “He has a commanding presence. He’s a three-time National Champion, a U23 World Champ, and was an Olympic alternate. Bo has all the tools to be a champion.”
“He has a unique style, he’s tall and his takedowns are very effective, especially in the UFC. His cage control is also strong. As he faces tougher opponents, his wrestling background and transition skills will continue to be crucial.”
In addition to training with Jon Jones, Steveson has also spent time training at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, alongside fighters like Michael Chandler, Gilbert Burns, and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Steveson is not yet fully focused on MMA, but he hopes to make rapid progress in his MMA career, similar to Nickal’s, once he dedicates himself to it.
“I’ll let people judge my talent,” Steveson said. “But personally, I believe I can compete with anyone, anytime. I think I can perform well and hold my own right now.”
“When the time is right, and we’ll know when it is, the opportunity will come, and I’ll excel and move forward as much as possible.”
For now, Steveson is focused on winning his third NCAA title and has started strong with a pin in his first match and another dominant victory to reach the quarterfinals on Friday.
