Gable Steveson is back to the mats that he once ruled, yet again. It was not long ago that the 2020 Tokyo Gold Medalist went on to announce that he would be returning to the mat. And that too as a collegiate wrestler! Steveson came back and joined the Minnesota Gophers for his last run in collegiate wrestling. Since 2022, when Steveson hung up his singlet, a lot has happened! He has tried it all during his time away!

Steveson gave WWE rings a shot and even tried his hand at the NFL tryouts. And now he has made yet another U-turn. But it doesn’t stop there! Steveson is already planning on making yet another switch, all thanks to the encounter with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. “After being in that camp with Jon Jones, that definitely put a major spark in me,” said Steveson’s post. While he continues to carry the big dream, a former Penn State wrestler turned UFC star had an interesting take on the possibility of Steveson’s switch!

Ex-PSU star Bo Nickal pinpoints wrong decisions from Steveson’s career!

Gable Steveson is a wrestler and athlete of immense caliber. And there’s no fighting that! So, with great talent also come great opportunities. And for Gable, fortunately, or unfortunately, the opportunities have been endless. But so have been the missteps, according to wrestler turned UFC star Bo Nickal. So what did Bo have to say? Bo was recently on the MMA on SiriusXM, where he was asked about the advice he would give some, like Steveson. And Bo did not hesitate!

“I think the biggest mistake he made was getting out of wrestling so early,” he said. It is a fair point, considering the fact that Steveson left wrestling after winning an Olympic gold in the 125 kg category. Steveson was at his peak, and if he had stayed the course, it just might have been the beginning of a legendary legacy. The insight does not stop there; Bo had some more to share!

Bo Nickal went on to even point out the constant shifts in Steveson’s career. “He’s bounced around quite a bit,” added Bo before reminding me that MMA is not an easy sport either. It comes with a bucket of its own challenges. “It’s not a game. The consequences are so much more serious than any other sport.” It is an interesting take from Bo, considering he had previously spoken about how MMA is a great switch for wrestlers to make. And why is that?

As Bo himself puts it, “I think the last decade, we really haven’t had the best collegiate wrestlers move into MMA.” However, it seems like Steveson’s inconsistency has thrown him off Bo’s list. Despite the critique, Nickal also acknowledged Steveson’s potential. “If he really wants to fight, then he’ll be great at it.” So then, why the downplaying?

As Bo sees it, the want to fight cannot be a facade or just a game to play! “I think it has to be internal; it has to be something you ask yourself and you decide for yourself that you want.” The decision is still up in the air, but in the meantime, Gable has returned to the mat despite all the noises around his return!

Bo’s words stand true as Gable Steveson makes an unforgettable return!

Bo Nickal’s words might carry some weight, but Gable Steveson’s recent return shows the world two things. One Bo might have just hit the nail when he said that Steveson should have stayed the course. Two, Steveson has silenced all critics with his match performance. So what exactly happened? Well, Steveson recently donned his Gophers singlet yet again, and then the world saw greatness in action.

This time, he was going head-to-head against North Dakota State. The Gophers went on to finish with a 39-0 sweep. A clear reminder of why Steveson is one of the greatest collegiate heavyweight wrestlers! Let’s not forget that Steveson, after all, has two NCAA titles, three Big Ten championships, and an 85-2 collegiate career record. So what lies ahead for Steveson?

Well, the Gophers have matches coming up against Campbell, South Dakota State, and Nebraska. And no doubt, this is going to be a season to remember! So, what’s next for Gable Steveson? Will he stay in wrestling long enough to add more accolades to his already legendary career? Or will Jon Jones’ advice pull him into the world of MMA? For now, the world will simply have to watch him rule the mats yet again!