Gable Steveson had quite a few options ahead of him after he failed to win a third NCAA title. The dramatic 5-4 loss against Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the NCAA finals marked an end to his remarkable 70-match college winning streak, but Steveson wasn’t dwelling on it. Hopping on The Pat McAfee Show, he revealed that he was “trying to get ready for an MMA career,” and that he has also received a “couple of calls from NFL teams.” Both moves sound intriguing, given Steveson’s history with each sport. He trained with UFC’s Jon Jones in October last year and was also signed by the Buffalo Bills, only to have a quick exit. As such, wrestling fans awaited Steveson’s next move with bated breath.

After his failed stint in WWE, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist returned to the NCAA and went on a tear, winning a fourth Big Ten Title. He was the favorite in the NCAA finals before suffering his first takedown of the season and losing out on the title. With the question of what’s next for Steveson gathering momentum, wrestling fans were in for a shock when Steveson’s next move was announced; in fact, it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had been revealed to be an April Fool’s prank.

On April 1, BJJ star Craig Jones took to Instagram to announce that he will face Steveson in a superfight at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) 2 on August 31, 2025. Despite the timing of the post, it was confirmed that this would indeed be happening. In an X post shared by @JustinJBasch, the matchup is being billed as “the biggest Jiu-Jitsu vs. wrestling crossover match in history.”

Steveson, with his unmatched wrestling pedigree—including two NCAA championships, two Dan Hodge trophies, and an Olympic gold medal —will test his skills against Jones, a two-time ADCC medalist and BJJ elite known for taking on the toughest opponents. Craig Jones faces a significant hurdle in this grappling match against Steveson, not only due to his elite wrestling pedigree but also the considerable size disparity, with Steveson competing at 120kg, but Jones has proven his world-class grappling abilities in ADCC at both 88kg and 99kg.  Still, overcoming a weight difference of over 20kg presents a formidable challenge.

Conversely, Steveson, despite his exceptional grappling skills from wrestling, will need to adapt to the nuances of this new sport’s ruleset. While his grappling foundation is undoubtedly strong, he will need to focus on developing his submission defense and refining his guard-passing techniques to succeed in this different competitive environment. Not to mention that it is his first step into competitive jiu-jitsu, and he will be facing one of the finest competitors in the sport. Moreover, in his announcement, Jones mentioned why he picked Steveson for the fight.

In his IG post, he had posted a photo of Steveson, writing, “Time to answer the age old question, is wrestling gayer than jiu jitsu?” before dropping a comment on the post, noting, “I choose my opponents like I choose women. I wait for a moment of vulnerability.”  Jones is known for his colorful personality, and it is no surprise that he took a light-hearted jab at Steveson’s defeat at the NCAA Finals to stir the pot.

While the announcement of the fight does come as a surprise pivot for Steveson’s rollercoaster career, does it mean he will be competing long-term in BJJ? Going by his comments on The Pat McAfee Show on March 24, he could be testing the waters before he decides to make a complete jump into MMA.

He has been training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones for some time, and talking to McAfee, he mentioned, “I appreciate his (Jones) efforts of trying to lead me into the right direction and kind of taking my back and giving me the direction that I need. I’m really young and he’s been there and done that before so I’m really appreciative of how he’s kind of walked my steps leading into this next chapter, if that’s what it is.” He also revealed that he hoped to meet UFC CEO Dana White.

“I have not spoken to Dana personally. That’s one meeting I would love to have face-to-face. I’ve been waiting a long time to see him. I know after the 2021 Olympics, he reached out and wanted me to come see him in Vegas and everything else. That’s one meeting that I would love to have and love to see. If I can get in front of his face and really pitch who I am and pitch who he can see and who I will be, I think that would be the greatest thing,” he added.

So, Steveson might have a clear plan on how he navigates the next chapter of his life, but how did fans react to him lining up to compete in BJJ next? Well, while the news may have been surprising, it might not have been completely out of the blue.

Steveson hinted at BJJ future as fans unhappy with the move

In his interview with McAfee, Steveson did hint that BJJ might be a possibility. “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 or right after I stepped off the mats Saturday night, just a couple of calls from a few new teams in the NFL,” he said.

While many fans may not have paid much heed to these words, the announcement of Gable Steveson’s superfight against Craig Jones at CJI 2 has unleashed a wave of resentment among wrestling fans, who see this as yet another detour from his Olympic potential. A fan on X didn’t hold back, venting, “I can’t wait until the last time we have to hear about Gable Steveson. Could have been the greatest ever but instead chose to jump from sport to sport like a clown. One of the biggest sporting fumbles ever.”

This sentiment captures the frustration of a fanbase that watched Steveson dominate as a 2020 Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion, only to see him chase ventures in WWE, the NFL, and now BJJ—leaving many to wonder if he’ll ever return to the sport that made him a star. But how deep does this disappointment run?

For many, Steveson’s latest move feels like a betrayal of the legacy he could have built representing the U.S. on the global stage. Another fan on X summed up the longing for a simpler path, asking, “Is it too much to ask for Gable to just wrestle for 4 years for the Red White and Blue lol?” Meanwhile, another speculated, “I assume that means Gable is not going to try to make the world team,” reflecting a growing fear that the former Gophers star is abandoning his chance to compete for Team USA at the highest level.

Fans had hoped the 24-year-old phenom would cement his status as a wrestling legend, but his sport-hopping has left them questioning his commitment, prompting some to propose alternative paths he could have taken instead.

The frustration has even turned to outright disdain for some fans, who feel Steveson’s actions border on opportunism. One fan on X rated Steveson’s various endeavors, stating, “BJJ Gable: 3 WWE Gable: 2 NFL Gable: 3 MMA Gable: 4 NCAA D1 Gable: 10 USAW MFS Gable: 10,” adding, “As I’ve said before, if I’m him I go to USAW leadership and give them my number, which donors would pay.” Others were more direct, declaring, “Steveson turning into a Grifter, just go away.”

These reactions paint a picture of a fanbase that feels let down by a once-in-a-generation talent, leaving many to wonder: Will Steveson ever reclaim the trust of the wrestling community, or has his legacy already been tarnished beyond repair?