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 officially announced his anticipated professional debut in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Steveson, 25, will face Braden Peterson at the LFA 217 event on September 12, in his home state of Minnesota. The event will be held 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, recognized for being a breeding ground for talent for the UFC.
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 the match in the final moments when Hedrickson achieved the first takedown against a Steveson opponent all season.
In recent years, Steveson has been seen in MMA circles, 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 wrestler from Montana, who achieved a knockout victory in 14 seconds in July.
