While Jon Jones has been sidelined, Tom Aspinall’s made noise, breaking records and holding the interim title. But let’s be real, ‘Bones’ isn’t sticking around forever. The heavyweight division needs fresh blood, who are dangerous, exciting challengers. Enter Gable Steveson, Olympic gold medalist and world-class wrestler.

In the gym of Albuquerque, New Mexico, training alongside perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones was a young American wrestler and Olympic gold medalist. That wrestler had been around the world and conquered it on the mat, yes, we’re talking about the one and only Gable Stevenson. Prepare and train alongside the best, and the outcome of which is his thunderous announcement.

After his whirlwind stint in the WWE, Gable Stevenson has officially announced that he will be entering the Octagon soon. As he sat down with the ‘OverDogs’ podcast, hosted by Mike Perry, Stevenson revealed his desire and aim to enter the Octagon next. And he quickly made it clear that he isn’t looking for an easy start.

“You always want to go up against the Tom Aspinall(s). You always want to go against the Gane(s). You want to go against the Vulkov(s). You want to go against the Sergei(s) — um, that’s how you say his name. You want to face them. You want to put on your best performance.” Said the Olympic gold medalist as he took the names of some of the top-tier heavyweight stars of the UFC.

But that wasn’t all, he also let the world know that he does not plan on shying away from a fight, he said: “But honestly, it doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t.”

Stevenson displayed a sense of passion and grit for the new realm he had set his eyes on to conquer and told the world, “There’s never been a time where I ran from somebody, and now is not going to be that time either. And when that day comes — when I have to stand and look another man in the eye and fight to the death — we’re going to fight to the death” 

So what does this mean for the UFC? What does this mean for Tom Aspinall? And most importantly, what about the heavyweight champion Jon Jones?

One thing is for certain: the competition in the UFC heavyweight division just got real.

Gable Stevenson’s entry in the UFC amid the Jones vs Aspinall controversy

It’s been two years since we first got the hint of a potential fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Ever since then it has just been words and speculations only. However, UFC CEO and President Dana White has promised to make the bout happen in 2025, “100 percent happening in 2025.” In a recent interview, even Tom Aspinall went vocal regarding further delays in their fight, saying: “I’m ready to fight. He’s either in or out. The division can’t wait forever.”

While on the other hand, Jones downplays his competition, contrasting the vast difference in their accolades, ‘Jonny Bones’ while throwing shade on Aspinall’s resume, he said: “I have no clue who 90% of his résumé is, meanwhile, I’ve been highlighting UFC events my entire career.” But with the entry of his former teammate and Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson, what will Jones have to say now?

Stevenson has made it clear that he will go straight for the toughest competition, he has a legacy, he has accolades, and he enters the sport a top-tier wrestler who may just excel beyond expectations inside an Octagon. If and when Stevenson decides to fight, it will be the day we see the dynamics in the UFC’s biggest and baddest division change.

With his mind set to fight any top contender from Aspinal to Sergei Pavlovic and even Alexander Volkov, the gold medal winner doesn’t to have had enough of the gold. Now he wants the UFC gold around his waist and if he can dominate Octagon just like a wrestling mat, we may see him at the top of the UFC too? Can Gable Stevenson find success in the Octagon? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.