Gable Steveson Debuts in MMA: A Wrestling Giant Makes the Leap
The renowned heavyweight wrestler, Gable Steveson, known for his dominance in the sport, has confirmed his foray into mixed martial arts with his first professional fight.
Steveson, 25, will face Braden Peterson at the LFA 217 event, scheduled for September 12 in Minnesota, his home state. The event 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 breeding ground for talent for the UFC.
In 2020, Steveson made history by becoming the youngest Olympic gold medalist in the freestyle wrestling heavyweight division, achieving this feat at the age of 21. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Steveson was crowned a two-time NCAA Division I champion, a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, and a five-time All-American.
In March 2025, he reached the final of the NCAA Championship, where he suffered an unexpected defeat to Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State University. Steveson was leading the match until Hendrickson achieved the first takedown against a Steveson opponent all season.
Steveson has been seen in the MMA world in recent years, including training time with former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones before his 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.
