Gable Steveson Prioritizes UFC Ascent Over 2028 Olympic Gold
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The former wrestling champion is weighing his professional MMA development against a potential return to the Olympic stage in Los Angeles.
Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I champion Gable Steveson is prioritizing his professional fighting career over a potential return to freestyle wrestling, according to CBS Sports.
Preparing for his second UFC appearance on Saturday against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331, Steveson is focusing on a calculated developmental process. Despite having thrown a flying knee in his July debut against Elisha Ellison, Steveson told CBS Sports he intends to slow things down and dominate his opponent using a variety of tools, including kicks, knees, and elbows.
While the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, Steveson indicated that chasing another gold medal is secondary to his goal of becoming a UFC champion. He stated that if pursuing the Olympics interferes with his destiny in the UFC, he is willing to give up the games.
Steveson is also resisting pressure to rush into high-stakes matchups. Despite a shifting heavyweight landscape following Tom Aspinall vacating the title and Ciryl Gane being promoted to undisputed champion, Steveson noted he would decline a top-five opportunity if his business affairs were not in the right spot. He cited previous business decisions involving the WWE and NFL as the basis for his cautious approach.
Additionally, Steveson has dismissed attempts by contender Josh Hokit to manufacture a feud, suggesting Hokit move to the light heavyweight division, though he acknowledged Hokit is a top-five heavyweight and a former standout college wrestler.