It’s not every day that we witness a real-life ‘David vs. Goliath’ affair but that’s exactly what happened at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships Finals. It is where Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson shockingly lost to Wyatt Hendrickson in what Daniel Cormier has called the “biggest upset in the history of the NCAA”. The 24-year-old released a lengthy statement after the fight, where it seems he is taking the loss in stride. But posting something on Instagram is one thing since no one can see you. You can’t hide your feelings in a live interview with the irreverent Pat McAfee.

Based on what he told McAfee on his ESPN show, it seems Steveson is indeed taking the loss remarkably well. Moreover, he is focused on his future, which could just be in the UFC. And to guide him through his MMA journey, he has found the perfect mentor! It’s none other than the GOAT contender, 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 into the right direction and kinda taking my back and giving me the direction I need,” Steveson told McAfee and the crew.

Of course, the University of Minnesota alum has already tried his hand at other ventures. He joined the WWE in 2021, where he failed to impress the fans, and was released from the UFC’s sister organization in 2024. The Indiana native also tried his hand at football, when he signed with the Buffalo Bills in May 2024. That, too, didn’t go anywhere as he was released a few months later without having played any games.

But MMA does seem like a good place for the Olympian. After all, the NFL requires a particular skill-set, and Steveson, who claims that he had never played football before signing with the Bills, was probably not very well suited for it. The WWE, too, is as much showbiz as it is sport, and Steveson just couldn’t get going. Despite the promotion’s best attempts, wasn’t very popular among fans. But MMA? That is a different story altogether.

The likes of Khamzat Chimaev, Merab Dvalishvili, and Henry Cejudo have found great success in the sport, and one of them was an Olympic gold medalist. So, yeah, Stevenson can be very successful in MMA if he can develop some striking, which apparently he is in the process of doing.

“Just making sure I can get my hands certified and ready. Just making sure I can see punches coming and making sure that I’m comfortable in the cage and comfortable with guys in front of me who will be throwing these huge haymakers,” he said. So what next for Steveson on his MMA journey?

Does Gable Steveson want to fast-track his MMA career?

Usually, mixed martial artists start off in their local amateur circuit, followed by the regional professional circuit. For those who want to get into the UFC, there are two paths. Either they are directly signed, which is reserved for the very best fighters in other promotions, or more commonly, they prove themselves on the Contenders’ Series or ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. However, Stevenson seemingly wants to skip these pesky steps and sign directly with the UFC. Why else would he want a meeting with UFC CEO Dana White as much as he does?

“I think that’s [MMA is] the best outlet for amateur wrestlers overall. I have not spoken to Dana personally, that’s one meeting I would love to have face-to-face, you know. I’ve been waiting for a long time. I know after the 2021 Olympics he reached out to me and wanted me to come see him in Vegas. That’s one meeting I would love to have,” the Olympian added.

But would that be a good idea? Steveson surely can succeed straightaway in the UFC. But there’s also a chance he doesn’t. And if Dana White and Co. try to build him up as the next big star and create huge expectations for Steveson, it could work against the Olympic gold medalist, as Bo Nickal is finding out the hard way. When there are big expectations from you, you need big wins every time!

Otherwise, you risk inviting the fans’ wrath just because your wins aren’t as impressive as they should be, which the Penn State Alum found out the hard way after his UFC 309 win over Paul Craig. What do you think about Gable Steveson’s revelations about his relationship with Jon Jones and possible MMA future?