A new force is headed for the UFC heavyweight division, and he is as highly touted as they come.
After a perfect start to his mixed martial arts career, Gable Steveson will soon bring his blossoming mixed martial arts skills to the Octagon.
Steveson has signed with the UFC and will make his debut at July’s International Fight Week event in Las Vegas, which is rumored to be headlined by Conor McGregor’s comeback.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist is just three fights into his MMA career, but that has not stopped one ex-champion from making a bold claim.
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The 25-year-old is only 3-0 in MMA but he is being touted as ‘the savior of the heavyweight division’.
Tyron Woodley backs Gable Steveson to dominate Tom Aspinall
Steveson survived a brutal head kick before finishing Hugo Lezama at Mexico Fight League 3 to move to 3-0 in the cage. That result was enough to secure his path to the UFC.
With a wrestling base that is about as strong as possible, many are backing the 25-year-old to find immediate success on MMA’s biggest stage. His mentor Jon Jones believes Steveson could become champion before the end of 2026.
The man himself is also not short on confidence. Steveson believes he could already be competitive against UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, as well as upcoming interim title challengers Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
Former welterweight king Tyron Woodley recently went a step further with his prediction, claiming the American newcomer would tear through Aspinall if they were matched up today.
“Gable Stevenson will become heavyweight champion,” Woodley told talkSPORT BET. “He can do it this year if he wants to.
“Tom Aspinall will get tortured by Gable right now. Tom looked sloppy against Ciryl Gane before he got poked in the eye. Gable has got powerful hands, all his fights are finishes. He has crazy wrestling, crazy athletic ability.
“He’s hungry,” Woodley continued. “You think he’s still happy about losing the NCAA championship in the last three seconds? Hell no.
“I don’t see a matchup in the UFC now at heavyweight that he does not win.”
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Steveson has not yet had an opponent confirmed for his debut at UFC 329 on July 11.
The champ, meanwhile, remains out of action while he recovers. Aspinall underwent double eye surgery earlier this year to repair the damage he sustained from Gane’s eye pokes last October.
He will have his eyes on the UFC White House co-main event, which will see either his French rival or ‘Poatan’ book a unification showdown with Aspinall upon his return.
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