Gable Steveson might not have grabbed that third NCAA championship, but let’s not kid ourselves, he’s far from calling it quits. The guy’s an Olympic gold medalist, and if there’s one thing we know, it’s that Steveson doesn’t back down easily. Sure, the transition out of amateur wrestling wasn’t exactly smooth. WWE let him go in February 2024, and then the Buffalo Bills didn’t pick him up in August. But instead of sulking, Steveson went back to college wrestling and crushed it — almost.

He had a near-perfect season, only getting taken down once. But that one takedown? Yeah, it happened in the NCAA finals against Wyatt Hendrickson, and that’s what cost him the championship. Now, what’s next for Steveson? A return to the Olympics in 2028? Nope. Steveson disclosed his choice of direction during his interview with Pat McAfee, where he revealed a path that requires some decision-making.

“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,” Steveson said. “Or right after I stepped off the mat Saturday night, I got a couple of calls from new teams in the NFL. The roads keep opening … I’m just so happy where I am today and where the future’s gonna take me.” So, is it MMA? Is it the NFL? Honestly, Gable Steveson’s got more options than a buffet line right now. But here’s the catch!

Now it’s not like he has no experience when it comes to the Giridion. But let’s not forget, MMA seems to be rolling out the red carpet. Longtime MMA reporter Damon Martin shared the buzz on X, quoting “Daniel Cormier notes that the MMA world is already excited at the possibility of Gable Steveson fighting. He would be one of the greatest prospects to ever try it. “

And when a two-division UFC champ and Olympic-level wrestler like Cormier speaks, people listen. But is raw potential enough to succeed in a brutal sport like MMA? Not everyone’s convinced. Trent Reinsmith, who threw cold water on the excitement, said, “No. The MMA world does not need Gable Steveson, and I would say that there are many who would not be excited if he ended up fighting. But after failing at pro wrestling and pro football, the MMA world is likely to get him…”

Oops. That’s harsher than a post-fight press conference after a bad loss. Reinsmith’s comments hit a nerve, and just like that, the MMA world split down the middle — some fans eager to see Gable Steveson in the octagon, others wishing he’d stick to the mat.

Doubts about Gable Steveson’s commitment

One fan wasn’t having the ‘failed at football’ narrative and made a solid point: “I think that’s a little harsh. Failed at Pro football is a bit of a misnomer. He never played football at all (including high school football) before trying out for the Bills, so it was expected. I think it would be exciting to see a gold medalist and 2 time D1 camp come in MMA.” And honestly? They’re not wrong.

Gable Steveson’s leap into football was like jumping into the deep end without knowing how to swim. The guy had never worn cleats in his life before signing a rookie contract with the Buffalo Bills in May 2024 to try his luck as a defensive tackle. Underdog? That’s putting it mildly. But give credit where it’s due — Steveson didn’t just show up; he showed out as best he could.

His first game ever was in the preseason opener, where he recorded a tackle and even got some quarterback pressure in just 14 snaps. He wrapped up the preseason with three tackles, but it wasn’t quite enough to make the final cut. Another fan chimed in with some heavy sarcasm, saying, “Yes, why would we need a super athlete when we have Mick Parkin and Jamal Pogues… great take dude… greattttttt takeeeeee (sarcasm).” Yeah, that one had more bite than a heavyweight’s right hook.

And another fan backed Daniel Cormier’s praise, adding, “Cormier is correct, he would be one of the best prospects to ever enter. Surprised. Weird if there were people excited that he didn’t enter the sport aside from those that wanted him to make another Olympic bid.” Basically, fans are split — some are hyped about Gable Steveson stepping into MMA, while others can’t seem to wrap their heads around it.

Another fan kept it real, saying, “I think everything about Gable Steveson in MMA would be great… if he wanted to be there. And nothing he’s ever done or said suggests this is something he actually wants. And a fighter that doesn’t want it? That’s not fun.” Fair point. If Gable Steveson’s heart isn’t in it, all the talent in the world won’t make up for that.

But then another fan came in swinging with the opposite take: “Anyone with a pulse should be excited at the idea of him fighting, in my opinion. His skills are very transformative, and he’d be an immediate contender.” One more fan didn’t pull any punches, saying, “HW is a weight class full of sloppy bums who can’t wrestle. What excitement would Gable add to that? There’s very little excitement that could come from him joining MMA.” Ouch.

But honestly? They’re echoing a sentiment a lot of hardcore fans share. The heavyweight division tends to be a slugfest, where raw power often trumps technique. And that’s exactly where someone like Steveson could flip the script. His Olympic-level wrestling could bring some much-needed skill to a division that’s been, well… kinda messy. But if Gable Steveson’s heart isn’t in it, does any of that potential even matter? That’s the real question fans can’t seem to agree on.