The speculations about Gable Steveson’s next move are never-ending. Gable Steveson’s wrestling journey has been anything but ordinary. While his college wrestling career was phenomenal, in 2022, while still eligible to dominate the mat for another season, the 24-year-old explored different avenues, including the WWE, and even a brief NFL stint with the Buffalo Bills. But where does his heart truly lie? Amid the rumors of a Gable-Steveson and UFC collab, the wrestling sensation’s recent hint seems to imply that his passion for wrestling is still paramount.

Recently, Steveson shared a cryptic Instagram story featuring his Olympic singlet and medal displayed at Minnesota’s vault, hinting at a potential comeback in wrestling and possibly setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. After all, if this were to happen, it wouldn’t come as a shock. As per a report by The Minnesota Star Tribune from November 2024, the star wrestler has plans to compete, and win a gold medal, at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. But what about the UFC rumors?

It is easy to argue that even after branching out in 2022, Gable Steveson returned to wrestle at the end of the day. So maybe it’s fair to assume that wrestling has his heart. But hold this, when he returned to wrestling in November 2024 and dominated the mat with a 20-4 technical fall against All-American Taye Ghadiali with the same form after 980 days, he opened up about the possibility of going either way, wrestling or MMA.

Speaking about the endless opportunities present in front of him, the wrestling sensation knew he was spoiled with options. After confessing that a big reason behind his comeback lay in the fact that he would love to win an Olympic gold on American land, he also hinted that MMA too wasn’t completely off the table, “But also the door of MMA is slowly starting to open up. As I put the gloves on, I really like the feeling of going out there and mixing everything together from wrestling to boxing to kickboxing to jiu-jitsu and putting all the pieces together in one.” Well honestly, he will crush it either way.

Gable Steveson’s dominance in wrestling has been established beyond the point of debate. On the other end, Jon Jones’ endorsement also speaks highly in terms of his future in MMA. What lies ahead for the 24-year-old?

Gable Steveson’s UFC Move or Wrestling Comeback?

The Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion had hinted at wanting to try his hand at MMA, which kept fans on their toes, wanting to know his next move. UFC star Bo Nickal also has something to say about Steveson. He stated, “I think it has to be internal; it has to be something you ask yourself, and you decide for yourself that you want.” But when it comes to Gable Steveson, his tendency to switch things up a bit is not without history. So how do we know which way he is headed now? We can only study a few clues.

Some hints, like training with UFC champion Jon Jones and statements by Jones and Steveson, raised the hopes of those who pine to watch the wrestling star take the UFC world by a storm. In an interview with the YouTube channel of Ariel Helwani, Steveson revealed, “After being in that camp with Jon Jones, that definitely put a major spark in me to go out there and do MMA. Not sure about the promotion yet. But Jon definitely lit a fire in me.” Well, the admiration isn’t one-sided. The former UFC light heavyweight champion also had words of praise for the Gophers star.

Jon Jones has also stoked the flames of speculation, publicly stating that Steveson would be a perfect fit for the promotion. “He’s an absolute beast, and I’d love to see him in the UFC,” Jones once remarked. Given Steveson’s size, agility, and elite grappling, the transition seems logical—but is it what he truly wants?

Despite the UFC rumors, Steveson’s actions suggest he’s not ready to leave wrestling behind. While some want him to be the UFC’s next star, others think that he is more committed to wrestling. After all, his dominance in wrestling is without precedent. But the clues dropped by the Indiana native are vague at best and if anything, have caused more questions to arise, leaving fans all the more restless. If we are to go by his history, he will make it a point to come back to wrestle no matter what. After all, who is a better prospect to clinch Olympic gold in 2028 than him?