Gable Steveson has not had much cage time yet, but his confidence is already making headlines.
Despite Steveson’s limited experience in mixed martial arts, having only made his debut in the sport last September, this is still the case.
Following a decorated wrestling career and a brief spell in WWE, the 25-year-old has recently begun his move into MMA. He is targeting a UFC contract in 2026.
Steveson just won his third professional fight, under the Mexico Fight League banner last Thursday, but the short sample in the cage does not appear to shake his confidence.
Gable Steveson confident he could handle Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane
Joe Rogan has spoken highly of Steveson’s MMA future, and so has Jon Jones, the wrestler’s mentor and former two-division UFC champion.
The UFC colour commentator already sees Steveson as a tough matchup for some top 10 heavyweights. But Steveson did not stop there.
The 25-year-old said he believes he could beat Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane, and Alex Pereira right now.
“Those three big names – Pereira, Aspinall, Gane – I can compete with most definitely. Especially right now,” Steveson told Submission Radio.
“But if you keep giving me time, the gap will keep coming in with the youthfulness that I have, with those guys being a little older. Tom is a little older, but Pereira, (much) older. Gane, (much) older.”
He added: “As time goes on, you don’t get any faster.”
Gable Steveson’s wrestling pedigree is undeniable
Steveson would be an interesting addition to any UFC division given his wrestling background, but it stands out even more because he is a heavyweight. That division is not in great shape these days, and his skillset could make an immediate impact.
Heavyweight used to be one of the glamour divisions in the UFC, similar to its place in boxing, but by 2026 it has lost much of that shine.
Outside of Aspinall and a handful of top fighters, the division is filled with lower-skill contenders who often produce fights that do not excite fans.
Given the current landscape, Steveson would step into a division where his grappling ability already puts him ahead of many others.
And beyond his wrestling base, he has started to show progress with his striking as well. Even without major improvements there, the 25-year-old could still separate himself from most heavyweights outside the top five.
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