TLDR
- Gable Steveson scored a 25-second knockout victory over Kevin Hein at Anthony Pettis FC 21, improving to 2-0 in MMA
- Jon Jones, who coaches Steveson, predicts he will become “the most elite heavyweight fighter on the planet within the next 12 months”
- Former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren believes Steveson could become UFC champion in 18 months
- Steveson previously won Olympic gold in wrestling at the 2021 Tokyo Games and had stints with WWE and the Buffalo Bills
- The 25-year-old has called for a UFC contract after both of his MMA wins
Gable Steveson continued his perfect start in mixed martial arts with a 25-second knockout victory over Kevin Hein at Anthony Pettis FC 21 on Sunday. The win marks his second professional MMA bout, both ending in first-round knockouts.
Steveson stopped Hein with a powerful left hook just 24 seconds into the fight. The knockout came so quickly that Steveson attempted a takedown while his opponent was already unconscious, according to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.
The 25-year-old made his MMA debut in September with a knockout victory. Between his two MMA fights, he also secured a 15-second knockout in Dirty Boxing competition last month.
Steveson won Olympic gold in wrestling for Team USA at the 2021 Tokyo Games. After his Olympic success, he signed with WWE but continued competing in amateur wrestling.
Last summer, Steveson joined the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. The Bills released him after three months with the team.
WWE released Steveson in May 2025. He has since focused entirely on his MMA career, with both fights taking place in the heavyweight division.
Training Under Jon Jones
Jon Jones has been coaching Steveson since his transition to MMA. The current UFC heavyweight champion posted a strong prediction on his Instagram story after Steveson’s latest victory.
“Mark my words, Gable will be the most elite heavyweight fighter on the planet within the next 12 months,” Jones wrote. Jones previously stated that he believes Steveson will become heavyweight champion one day.
Former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren offered an even more specific timeline. “Yep, time to go to the UFC. Gable can be champ in 18 months,” Askren wrote on social media.
Askren followed a similar path from Olympic wrestling to MMA. He held championships in Bellator and One Championship before joining the UFC in 2019.
UFC Contract Speculation
Steveson has called for a UFC contract after both of his MMA victories. The promotion has not yet signed him despite his wrestling credentials and quick finishes.
Multiple observers believe the UFC should sign Steveson immediately. PFL is rumored to have already contacted Steveson’s team about a potential deal, according to reports.
The UFC heavyweight division currently features Tom Aspinall as champion. Podcast host Joe Rogan has previously described the heavyweight division as lacking depth beyond a few top fighters.
Jones was scheduled to fight Aspinall in a unification bout this year. He vacated his belt and retired after backing out of a $30 million deal.
Jones later reversed his retirement decision. He wants to compete at a UFC event scheduled for the White House in June 2026.
UFC president Dana White expressed reluctance to book Jones for that card. “I can’t put Jon Jones in a position he can [pull out],” White said last week. “I had a deal with him to fight Tom Aspinall, and he said, ‘I’m not gonna do it’. I can’t be in that position again.”
Steveson continues training and competing outside the UFC while waiting for an opportunity with the promotion.
