Ahead of UFC 329, we are looking at the biggest storylines going into the event. Today: Gable Steveson’s arrival to the big show.
Gable Steveson may be, without exaggeration, the most blue chip prospect to ever be signed into the UFC.
He’s not only excelled in one discipline, but he’s spent time at the highest level in other arenas. His 2021 Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling is complimented by two NCAA titles. He was briefly signed to the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and played several games with the practice squad. Finally, he spent three years working with the WWE where he had several dark matches and one televised match on their NXT program. Compared to his contemporaries to come over to MMA from other disciplines, he carries more credentials than nearly all of them.
Oh, did we mention he’s also a close teammate of one of the consensus greatest MMA fighters of all-time in Jon Jones?
So far he’s only had three MMA fights (and one bout under the hybrid rules of Jones’ Dirty Boxing promotion) and they’ve all ended within the first round in his favor. It is a touch more experience than the likes of other super prospects like Bo Nickal, Kayla Harrison, and Aaron Pico had before they entered the big leagues of a major MMA promotion. But he certainly carries far more attention going into one of the biggest events of the year.
GABLE STEVESON 13 SECOND KO 😳
Jon Jones loving it 👀 pic.twitter.com/E0YgXNODSn
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 31, 2025
He is, as many super prospects being pushed into the spotlight quickly are, a huge risk for the promotion. On the one hand, He could well develop into the newest heavyweight contender and potentially one of the most dangerous fighters ever seen given his vast pedigree in wrestling. On the other, his lack of experience could be exposed by his foes and throw the proverbial bucket of cold water on his aspirations in MMA before they’ve really had a chance to take flight.
But that is the world Steveson has created with his success. Today’s wirelessly connected world makes it impossible for him to cut his teeth anonymously on the regional scene, especially given his high profile. Furthermore, said stardom also means that he is almost certainly being underpaid competing in anything less than a global promotion with a budget to compensate him for the attention he brings. In short, the only option for him is to either sink or swim in the UFC if he intends to be a professional mixed martial artist.
For night one at least, Steveson has been given as hand-picked an opponent as can be hoped for. The 5-2 Elisha Ellison was set for a Dana White’s Contender Series bout last year but the promotion ended up cancelling his bout and rebooking him against the same opponent immediately in the UFC last September. Ellison lost that bout by first round finish and could already be fighting for his UFC job before it’s really even begun.
Could the UFC find another Ellison should Steveson be victorious? Perhaps. But the fact remains he could be called out by veterans looking to expose his inexperience sooner rather than later. Then, should he not take such bouts as he continues to build experience, the narrative will quickly change as to when will he take on bigger name opponents that will test his abilities.
He is as athletically talented and gifted as anyone who’s ever entered the UFC. He is too decorated not to take a risk on. The only thing now is to see if the sum of all the pieces does translate into “the next big thing” in MMA.
