Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson appears to be like so as to add to his trophy case this weekend as he competes within the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships the place he seeks to turn out to be a three-time champion for the College of Minnesota.
However past his aspirations in wrestling, which additionally features a potential journey again to the Olympic video games in 2028 when the occasion lands in Los Angeles, the now 24-year-old athletic phenom continues to tease his eventual transfer into MMA. Whereas he’s at all times talked about preventing, Steveson took a giant step ahead in that regard this previous 12 months when he turned an integral a part of Jon Jones’ coaching camp as he ready for his battle in opposition to Stipe Miocic.
Steveson approaches each athletic endeavor with the identical championship mindset and he expects to do the identical when it lastly comes time to deal with MMA.
“I’m younger and I’m hungry,” Steveson informed MMA Combating. “I need to be the perfect in something I can presumably be.”
Whereas there’s scores of fighters who’ve transitioned from wrestling to MMA, not everybody finds success on the similar velocity.
Three-time NCAA champion Bo Nickal has arguably loved one of many quickest ascensions up the ranks since he determined to show his full concentrate on preventing. He at present sports activities an ideal 7-0 report total together with 4 wins within the UFC together with his fifth battle scheduled in Could when he clashes with ex-ONE Championship two-division champion Reinier de Ridder.
Regardless of a brighter highlight shining down on him than virtually another prospect with seven skilled fights, Nickal has embraced his alternatives with most believing he’ll ultimately seize UFC gold.
Steveson has undoubtedly been impressed by what he’s seen thus far with Nickal setting an ordinary for each wrestler who adopted him into the game now.
“Bo is phenomenal,” Steveson stated. “Should you have a look at Bo and the aura that Bo brings, when he steps on the market we all know he’s a three-time Nationwide Champion, a U23 World Champ, Olympic alternate subsequent to David Taylor. Bo has each package deal potential to be the champ proper now.
“He’s bought such a singular fashion. He’s so lanky and his photographs are excessive share, particularly what you see within the UFC. His cage work now. The subsequent few fights we see from him simply standing with harder guys, he’s already so completely collected in his wrestling background and his transition wrestling, too.”
Past working with Jones throughout his preparation for the Miocic battle this previous November, Steveson had beforehand spent a while coaching with the fighters and coaches at Kill Cliff FC in Florida. That’s the identical fitness center the place Michael Chandler, Gilbert Burns and Shavkat Rakhmonov name house.
As of but, Steveson hasn’t been capable of really dedicate himself solely to MMA however he hopes as soon as the game will get his full consideration, he’ll make strikes on the similar velocity as Nickal did together with his profession.
“I feel I’ll let the gang of individuals determine what my expertise is however I’ll allow them to say what they need to say.,” Steveson stated. “From my very own standpoint, in my very own head, I feel I will be up there and compete with anyone, any time. Proper now, I feel I can go on the market and do an excellent job and maintain my very own.
“When the time is true — and we’ll know when the time is true — that door will open and we’ll excel in that area and transfer ahead as a lot as potential.”
For now, Steveson appears to be like to seize his third NCAA title in 4 years and he bought issues off to a quick begin with a pin in his opening spherical matchup after which one other dominant win to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals on Friday.
