Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson remains committed to his ultimate goal of transitioning to mixed martial arts even as he prepares for his high-profile grappling debut against Craig Jones at the Craig Jones Invitational 2 on August 31st in Las Vegas.
During a recent appearance on the FloGrappling Show Steveson made it clear that while he’s taking his upcoming jiu-jitsu match seriously his long-term vision extends far beyond the grappling mats.
“I would love to accomplish being in the UFC and not just being in the UFC, just dominating and being a star and holding that belt,”
Steveson stated. The 24-year-old Olympic gold medalist emphasized his desire to become
“the guy that people look at and be like, ‘Wow, he’s done it all and he’s the next big thing in this sport.'”
Steveson’s preparation for the CJI 2 superfight has been enhanced by his connections with elite combat sports athletes. He’s been training alongside Jon Jones and jiu-jitsu ace Gordon Ryan absorbing knowledge from multiple disciplines.
“I’m thankful to have the guys that have been helping me to prepare for this match and to prepare for future MMA matches,”
Steveson explained highlighting how his current grappling training serves his broader MMA ambitions.
The Minnesota native approached the Craig Jones matchup with his characteristic confidence admitting he initially had no idea who Jones was when first contacted about the bout.
“When Craig reached out about this, I had no recollection of who he was. I just figured he was a promoter,”
Steveson revealed. However he’s since recognized the opportunity to showcase his skills to a new audience while continuing his combat sports education.
Steveson’s training regimen has evolved to incorporate jiu-jitsu alongside his wrestling foundation.
“A lot of myself is MMA based, but also I still stay in the wrestling room at the Minnesota Gopher Room. And I go to a lot of jiu-jitsu classes also,”
he shared. This cross-training approach reflects his strategic preparation for an eventual MMA career where grappling proficiency across multiple disciplines is essential.
The Olympic champion views his CJI appearance as part of a larger journey rather than a standalone event. When asked about potential future grappling matches Steveson expressed openness to the idea suggesting he might
“gradually move up the ladder and beat everybody else, too.”
However he was clear that grappling represents just one piece of his athletic puzzle.
Steveson’s approach to competition remains rooted in the aggressive forward-pressure style that made him successful in wrestling.
“I was just a brawler and that’s what I liked about my style,”
he explained indicating he plans to bring that same intensity to both his upcoming grappling match and future MMA endeavors.
