Ahead of his initial promotional appearance, Gable Steveson’s potential and prospects within the UFC are already being widely discussed, with a seasoned UFC Hall of Famer offering his perspective. Steveson holds an undefeated record in mixed martial arts and is set to make his octagon debut at UFC 329, where he will face Elisha Ellison, under the mentorship of Jon Jones.
The esteemed UFC Hall of Fame inductee making these comments is Clay Guida. His remarks were made in anticipation of a Real American Freestyle event, an organization Steveson is also competing for. There’s a notable consensus among wrestling enthusiasts and MMA observers alike, who strongly believe in Gable Steveson’s capacity to quickly ascend to a UFC championship. When queried about whether he shares this widespread conviction, Guida stated [according to Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Absolutely. Gable Steveson is an extraordinary talent. He is exceptionally diligent. From a very young age, he has achieved every possible milestone in the sport of wrestling. From securing state titles in youth wrestling just south of the border in Indiana, through his high school career in Minnesota, and then at the NCAA collegiate level. I believe he was either a two or three-time NCAA champion, a world champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. So, we witnessed his triumphs in multiple NCAA championships.”
“I was present last year, for what was arguably one of the most significant upsets in NCAA history, when he was defeated by Wyatt Hendrickson. It was an incredible bout. My father, my brother, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Attending the NCAA championships is an annual tradition for us. But when you observe an athlete of his caliber developing an interest in something new, you should take notice. I mean, his potential is limitless, and his learning curve is incredibly steep.”
“I am intimately familiar with Jon Jones. We trained together at Jackson’s for many years; he’s a long-time friend and teammate. To see him embracing a role akin to a coach, a trainer, a teammate, or a mentor for Gable Steveson, I truly appreciate it. You couldn’t ask for a better individual to guide him in realizing his MMA aspirations. Seriously, I recall his last three bouts, which many people witnessed… He’s dispatching these opponents almost instantaneously after the fight begins. There will always be detractors, of course.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jsosOQozc
Gable Steveson to Represent Elite Wrestlers in the UFC Octagon, Guida Says
Delving deeper into Gable Steveson’s potential within the Ultimate Fighting Championship, prior to his imminent July debut with the promotion, Guida elaborated [as reported by Bowks Talking Bouts],
“There will invariably be critics in any field, particularly in professional sports. This individual is poised to accomplish every goal he sets for himself. I believe it’s entirely within his control, and as you mentioned, I foresee a rapid ascent for him. I think realistically, considering the current landscape of the UFC, here’s the situation. I’ll use my own career as an illustration. I wouldn’t say we started late because I entered the UFC when I was, I believe, 25 or possibly 24. However, I also accumulated 25 fights before joining the UFC.”
“I think I had accumulated 21 or 22 victories and a few defeats before my UFC induction. Nowadays, you observe athletes with only three, four, or five wins gaining entry into the UFC. Perhaps this is due to the Contender Series, or The Ultimate Fighter, or simply excellent management. Suddenly, they’re performing in other organizations and rapidly advancing to the UFC. My brother and I, we didn’t have that insight back then. Our philosophy was simply to fight, fight, fight as frequently as possible.”
“I recall one year, either 2004 or 2005 – I think it was 2005 – where I might have had something like 11 or 13 fights within a single year. I can’t quite recall the exact number, but it was just one of those… Our mentality was to fast-track our way to the major league, to the UFC. Now, there are various pathways available, including representation, social media, and content creation. These and other factors offer different routes to get there. Not to mention, the overall standard of MMA, the level of competition, has advanced significantly.”
“But returning to your original point, Gable Steveson… [he] will be prepared for any opponent they place before him, and he will dominate, truly…. He is genuinely ready to step into that octagon and perform under those intense lights. He has previously competed on a global, even an Olympic, scale. He has achieved everything. But I truly wish to see him succeed in this endeavor. Not to be self-serving, but to have another phenomenal wrestler within the ranks, to have arguably one of the finest wrestlers representing the sport of wrestling at the MMA level.”
