Gable Steveson made an explosive start to his MMA career on Friday, crushing his way to a first-round win in his professional debut. The Olympic gold winner and former NCAA star wasted no time introducing himself to the MMA world, displaying the superb wrestling and athleticism that have long made him a household name in combat sports.

Fans and experts have been keenly following Steveson’s transfer from WWE to the cage, eager to see how quickly he can make an impact. And well, he lived up to the expectations when Steveson faced 37-year-old Braden Peterson at LFA 217 at Prior Lake, Minnesota. From the get-go, it was evident who had the advantage.

The Olympian expertly escaped an early knee strike before quickly getting a takedown with a kick. He struck with a powerful elbow moments later, laying the groundwork for what was to come. Peterson never recovered as Steveson applied continuous pressure, securing a first-round TKO at 1:38.

The debut showed not only Gable Steveson’s wrestling background but also the influence of his corner. UFC legend Jon Jones, who has worked closely with Steveson in recent training camps, guided him throughout the bout by being in his corner. The 25-year-old’s switch from WWE to MMA has been highly anticipated, especially given his history as a dominant heavyweight wrestler.

After being released from WWE last year, he turned to MMA, where his skill set—wrestling, explosiveness, and size—could impact the relatively shallow heavyweight division. And with his first outing, he proved that the Olympic gold medalist can carry that dominance into the cage.

With a first-round TKO officially recorded as Gable Steveson def. Braden Peterson by TKO (ground and pound), Round 1, 1:38. The wrestling prodigy has clearly signaled that he is ready for the next chapter in his combat sports career. The combination of Olympic credentials, elite training partners such as Jon Jones, and raw talent has fans eagerly awaiting his next fight. In fact, they want it to be in the UFC.

Fans demand a UFC contract for Gable Steveson

Fans are already chanting for Gable Steveson to join the Dana White-led promotion, and their voices are stronger than ever following his first-round TKO debut. Social media feeds have been flooded with posts like “Get him on the Contender Series NOW,” “Dana NEEDS to sign him already,” and the playful “99 missed calls from the UFC,” showing the urgency and enthusiasm around the wrestling phenom’s transition. The MMA world sees Steveson as ready to face the elite, with no time to waste for the UFC head honcho to get the young fighter’s signature.

In fact, fans began to speculate about Steveson’s next opponents, with some daring to dream big. “Jon Jones vs. Gable Steveson at the White House. Book it now, Dana,” stated one fan, while another added, “Look out, Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones Jr. is coming for you,” showing that discussions have already moved beyond just a UFC contract. And for a man of his caliber, the idea of him facing established champions is no longer outlandish in the eyes of fans.

However, while several were excited, many were dissatisfied with his win. Why? That’s because he withdrew from the highly anticipated grappling superfight against Craig Jones at CJI 2 due to a turf toe injury sustained during training. And just 12 days later, he seems all fine and powerful with this win. So, as expected, MMA fans wasted no time calling out the 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist. They took it to social media and wrote tweets such as “Didn’t he have an injury?” “Miracle he cured his turf toe so fast,” and “Turf toe survivor 🙏🙏.”

But despite the minor criticism, Gable Steveson’s swift rise and immediate impact in MMA have created a perfect storm of anticipation, with fans actively speculating about dream matchups and championship possibilities. So, what do you think? Will he be able to find success in MMA? Let us know in the comments.