After winning the Olympic gold medal, things did not work out well for Gable Steveson. He had an uneventful time in WWE, and then when he returned to amateur wrestling, he lost there as well. But when it came to his MMA debut at LFA 217 yesterday, Steveson knocked it out of the park and registered a win. After the fight, the Olympic winner shared a message, thanking everybody who was involved in his preparation and training for his venture into mixed martial arts.

There was certainly a lot of pressure on Gable Steveson to perform and win on his debut. And that’s exactly what he did. His opponent, Braden Peterson, who’s a veteran, had no answers to the Olympic champion. As the first round almost reached the two-minute mark, Steveson dropped Peterson and unloaded a barrage of strikes, only for the referee to put an end to the fight. It was a big win and a confidence booster for the 25-year-old, and he expressed his happiness on social media.

“Blessed to get the job done with the best around me! Appreciate yall!! Also, thank you to everyone who watched. Hope you enjoyed the show! See you all again,” wrote Gable Steveson on Instagram after beating his debut opponent. He thanked the people who showed support and helped him train, including UFC two-weight champion Jon Jones.

Well, Jon Jones was right there sitting cageside when he saw Gable Steveson win. As the Olympic champion kept unloading strikes on his opponent, the consensus UFC GOAT was on the edge of his seat. As soon as the referee stopped the fight, Jones seemed elated and celebrated Steveson’s win, jumping and hugging the rest of the team who came to support the debutant. But that’s not it! Jones would later speak about Steveson’s win, and he had nothing but praise to share.

Jon Jones lauds Gable Steveson

Jon Jones, after Gable Steveson’s win, mentioned that the former Olympian has always been like a sponge during their training sessions. The former UFC champion not only hailed the 25-year-old’s athletic abilities, but also mentioned that he’s sure the fans will “get used to” Steveson winning fights. Also, Jones claimed that Steveson has always been someone who’s keen on learning from the best, and that is what led him to win on his debut.

“He’s Gable. And as I say that, I feel like the MMA crowd will get used to hearing that, just like the wrestling crowd understands what he is,” Jon Jones stated during an interview. “He’s a freak athlete. He’s incredibly fast, he’s powerful, intelligent, has the work ethic, and he’s shown our team, Greg Jackson and I… that he’s willing to humble himself and surround himself with the best.”

Well, what are your thoughts on Gable Steveson’s MMA debut? Do you think he can make it to the UFC one day after witnessing his first MMA fight? Drop your comments below.