Gable Steveson revealed he intentionally chose not to lean on his elite Olympic wrestling during his UFC debut, opting instead to display his striking. The two-time Olympic medalist cited his admiration for Daniel Cormier as part of his mindset heading into the fight, but warned opponents not to expect the same approach going forward.
Gable Steveson has revealed that he deliberately kept his elite wrestling on the shelf during his UFC debut, choosing instead to put his striking on display for the first time at the professional mixed martial arts level.
The 26-year-old American, standing six-foot-one and entering the UFC with no professional record to his name, explained that he made a conscious decision to show audiences a different dimension of his game rather than falling back on the skillset that made him famous. Steveson is a two-time Olympic medalist whose wrestling credentials place him among the most decorated combat sports athletes to ever transition to MMA, yet he chose to leave that weapon untouched in his first outing.
He cited his admiration for Daniel Cormier as part of the mindset he carried into the fight — Cormier himself being a former Olympic wrestler who built a Hall of Fame MMA career by developing well-rounded skills beyond the mat. The parallel is an instructive one, suggesting Steveson views elite wrestling not as a crutch but as a foundation to build from.
Steveson was direct in his message to future opponents, however, warning them not to expect the same approach going forward. The implication is clear: the wrestling will come, and opponents who prepare for a striking-heavy Steveson may find themselves facing an entirely different problem.
Why it matters
- Steveson enters the UFC with perhaps the highest wrestling pedigree of any debut fighter in the promotion's history, making his choice to shelve it a significant strategic statement.
- His willingness to develop and showcase striking first suggests a long-term plan to become a complete fighter rather than a one-dimensional grappling threat.
- Future opponents now face genuine uncertainty about which version of Steveson will show up, complicating game-planning considerably.
