Hold your horses, fight fans! Before we crown Gable Steveson the next UFC heavyweight king, Dana White needs to see him actually fight inside the Octagon. Because let's be honest, hype trains can derail faster than you can say "takedown."
Dan Hiergesell, a seasoned MMA expert and weekend editor at MMAmania.com with over 15 years covering the sport, including appearances on programs like Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, brings us this insightful perspective. He reminds us that while the potential is undeniable, real-world performance is the ultimate test.
Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist wrestler, is indeed poised to transition into the UFC, likely in 2026. He's currently 2-0 in his professional MMA career, and he's got none other than UFC legend Jon Jones in his corner, promising championship gold. Jones clearly believes in Steveson's potential, but is that enough?
Now, Joe Rogan, the UFC's color commentator, has already thrown some serious fuel on the fire. He believes Steveson is already an elite heavyweight, even a top 5 contender, despite never having faced UFC-level competition. Rogan cites Steveson's "crazy" speed and "elite" wrestling as the foundation for these lofty expectations. That's high praise, and it certainly gets fans excited. But here's where it gets controversial...
Is Rogan jumping the gun? Can wrestling dominance automatically translate to success in the brutal world of MMA, where striking, submissions, and cage awareness are equally crucial? It's a debate that's raging across the MMA community.
Dana White, the UFC CEO, plans to bring Steveson in through the Contender Series in 2026, a proving ground where aspiring fighters earn their shot at a UFC contract. White acknowledges Steveson's potential, stating he believes he has what it takes to be one of the best. And this is the part most people miss... White isn't dismissing Steveson; he's simply preaching patience and emphasizing the need for tangible proof.
White's perspective, as revealed in a recent interview with Spinnin Backfist, is grounded in experience. "You don’t know until we find out. You can speculate all you want, but you don’t know until you get him in there," White stated bluntly. He added a crucial point: "No matter where you came from it’s hard to come to the UFC. Everybody looks human when they come here.” In other words, past accolades mean little when you're standing across the cage from a seasoned UFC fighter. The Octagon has a way of humbling even the most decorated athletes.
White's caution is understandable. We've seen countless examples of athletes from other combat sports struggling to adapt to the multifaceted demands of MMA. Wrestling provides a fantastic base, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Think about it: How will Steveson handle getting punched in the face by a world-class striker? How will he defend against submissions from a jiu-jitsu expert? These are questions that can only be answered inside the Octagon.
So, where do you stand? Is Joe Rogan right to be so confident in Gable Steveson's potential? Or is Dana White's measured approach the more sensible one? Will Steveson live up to the hype, or will he become another cautionary tale of an athlete who couldn't translate their success to the UFC? Sound off in the comments below! Let's hear your predictions.
