Gable Steveson Debuts in MMA: The Olympic Champion Faces Braden Peterson
The world of mixed martial arts (MMA) is preparing to welcome a wrestling legend. Gable Steveson, recognized as one of the most dominant heavyweight wrestlers of his generation, has confirmed his professional debut.
Steveson, aged 25, will face Braden Peterson at the LFA 217 event, scheduled for September 12th in his home state, Minnesota. The competition will take place at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and will be broadcast via UFC Fight Pass. LFA is one of the leading regional promoters in the United States, known for being a constant breeding ground for UFC talent.
In 2020, Steveson became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in the history of the freestyle heavyweight division, achieving this feat at the age of 21. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Steveson was a two-time NCAA Division I champion, a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, and a five-time All-American.
He advanced to the finals of the 2025 NCAA Championship in March, where he suffered an unexpected defeat to Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State University. Steveson was leading in the final moments of the match when Hendrickson achieved the first takedown against a Steveson opponent all season.
In recent years, Steveson has been seen in the MMA world, including training time with former UFC heavyweight champion and legend Jon Jones, before Jones’ last fight in 2024. He has also trained at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas. His opponent, Peterson (1-0), is a 37-year-old fighter from Montana, who earned a knockout victory in 14 seconds in July.
