Gable Steveson Maintains Domination as Potential UFC Bound Star Gives Minnesota Major Boost

The current 2024-25 NCAA season is delivering a ton of fascinating college wrestling matches. Many teams are trying their way to make it to the top, and one such is Minnesota. They had a great season opener last week, and they continued their domination in their latest game against South Dakota, with their top wrestler, Gable Steveson, powering them to a top-tier finish.

The Olympic champion’s return to the NCAA was very controversial, as it was followed by a ton of questions from the community, who were concerned about the league’s integrity towards young talents. However, Steveson won’t be backing off anytime soon; he’s looking forward to his third NCAA title with Minnesota while also pursuing his many off-wrestling adventures, like training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and showcasing his interest in the sport.

Showcasing his prowess again in the NCAA

NCAA is no stranger to Gable Steveson, as he had his titles back in 2021 and 2022 in the 285-pound division. He is a champion who has made a dramatic return to the league, aiming for another title, which also showcased his dedication towards the sport. However, this return of the wrestler wasn’t welcomed with open arms by the community due to him being a literal Olympic champion. A wrestler of Steveson’s caliber can easily take out these youngsters, which was the sole reason for the backlash on his comeback.

But, Steveson is too immune to the critics and has his own goals prioritized in the current season. Heading into Brookings, South Dakota, the 24-year-old had one clear mindset, which was to secure a victory in his bag. And what did he do? Exactly the same. According to a report by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Steveson was ready to wrestle against Luke Rasmussen, but the Jackrabbits’ wrestler stood no chance against him. He was obliterated with a score of 19-4 around 2:25, and this victory pushed Steveson’s streak to 55-0, furthermore fueling his overall Gophers career to 88-2.

Steveson’s incredible performance also made him secure another achievement, which was that his streak is now the fourth longest in the program’s history. Apart from the 24-year-old, how did his team perform? They were dominant as well. On Sunday, the performance by the Gophers was something else against the Jackrabbits. Even though it was South Dakota’s home turf, the Minnesota wrestlers showed zero mercy and won nine out of ten matches. This victory was also the tenth one in the streak for the No. 7 Gophers, who have been dominant since the last season.

There’s still a lot to unfold for Steveson and Minnesota, but they are looking a lot more confident with the way their season-opener games are going. However, wrestling isn’t the only sport that the 24-year-old is completely dedicated to. He has been seen with the UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones before during some camps, where he got a ton of experience in the new sport. Surely, Steveson also confirmed that he won’t be going anywhere near UFC’s official matches until the next few years, as he is focused on wrestling. But is there a valid reason for the Olympic champion coming back to the NCAA? The answer is yes, and it’s more than just his third title.

Gable Steveson’s real reason for his NCAA return

“Has anyone messed up their career more after winning a Gold Medal than Gable Steveson?” These types of social media responses are what Gable Steveson received during his return to the NCAA. He isn’t the most welcomed wrestler out there, but he has his priorities set for the current season. The Gophers wrestler joined FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul for an interview and revealed the reason behind his return, stating, “You know, that my family definitely helped me put me in the right spot. My dad loves wrestling a lot, and he wanted to see me back last year, and he was just like, ‘If you got the time to do it, just finish it off. Finish it off in the best way you can, and walk off in that NCAA finals match with that title once again.'”

Steveson’s hunger for the third NCAA title with Minnesota is valid. He has his own support system, which is none other than his family, who have been there for him every time. And the 24-year-old didn’t disappoint on his return to the scene, as in his debut match against Campbell’s Taye Ghidali, he dominated and won the match with a 20-4 technical fall. Steveson is completely determined with his ambitions, and there’s a lot more action that he will be delivering in the coming weeks.