There’s a lot going on with Gable Steveson!  The Olympic gold medalist once hailed as WWE’s next big thing found himself on the outside looking in after an underwhelming run with the company. His high-profile NIL deal, a WrestleMania moment, and a marquee NXT match ended sooner than expected. But just when it seemed Steveson was ready to pivot, he returned to college wrestling, eyeing history as a three-time NCAA champion. Then, the shocker took place! Wyatt Hendrickson stunned the heavyweight icon with a dramatic takedown, handing him a crushing 5-4 defeat. So that begs a question: what’s next for Steveson? MMA? Well, Steveson might have spilled the beans!

Gable Steveson’s athletic journey has been anything but predictable. From Olympic gold to WWE, a brief NFL stint, and now, potentially, MMA. Just days after his shocking NCAA loss, Steveson appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and addressed what’s next. “Oh man, the sun always comes up the next day,” he said. “You know, that’s a saying that everyone’s always talked about.”

Steveson signed a three-year deal with the Buffalo Bills in May 2024 despite never playing football before. His first time wearing cleats? During his workout for the team. But just three months later, he was released. It was another abrupt chapter ending, but Steveson isn’t short on options. “But what’s next for me is I’ve been boxing. I’ve been putting on the gloves, doing jiu-jitsu classes, trying to get ready for an MMA career,” he revealed. “Or right after I stepped off the mat Saturday night, just a couple of calls from a few new teams in the NFL. And just the roads keep opening. And I’m just so happy that I can go out there and put on my best performance, win or lose. Like I said, I’m always a showman. I go out there, and I turn the crowd up. I show love.”

MMA isn’t just a passing thought for Steveson. His interest sparked during a training camp with Jon Jones last year, where he quickly took to the sport. Jones himself encouraged Steveson to consider a switch, telling him he had the skill set to excel. Now, with his wrestling pedigree and growing combat sports experience, he’s eyeing a new challenge. “After being in that camp with Jon Jones, that definitely put a major spark in me to go out there and do MMA,” Steveson admitted in November 2024. Jones even encouraged him, saying, “…I think you should try MMA. We’ve got a great team here in Albuquerque if you want to join us.”

For Steveson, it felt natural. “When I put on the gloves, everything felt like home base,” he said. Wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu—it all clicked. Gable Steveson isn’t just testing the waters, as he’s seriously considering MMA.

Gable Steveson turns to Jon Jones for MMA Inspiration

Power, explosiveness, agility, and he’s got it all. But even for someone like him, jumping straight into MMA, especially the UFC, won’t be a walk in the park. So, who’s he turning to for guidance? None other than Jon Jones.

“I mean, I got a great mentor right now. I hope a lot of people know a guy named Jon Jones… He’s pretty damn good, you know. And I appreciate his efforts of trying to lead me in the right direction and kinda taking my back and giving me the direction I need,” Steveson told Pat McAfee and his crew.

Not a bad guy to have in your corner, right? Jones, a former UFC Light Heavyweight champ who now fights in the Heavyweight division, knows a thing or two about making history. But even with Jones’ backing, Steveson might have to take the long road—just like Bo Nickal. The UFC made Nickal grind through Dana White’s Contender Series before handing him a contract.

Will Steveson have to do the same? Or will his Olympic gold and wrestling pedigree fast-track him? After all, when a guy like Jon Jones sees potential in you, the sky’s the limit!