Gable Steveson, LFA 217 Credit: UFC Fight Pass
Gable Steveson took less than a minute to land his first takedown as a professional mixed martial artist.
It didn’t take much more than that for him to pick up his first win. All part of the Olympic gold medalist wrestler’s debut at LFA 217 on Friday.
Against an out-matched, 37-year old Braden Peterson, Steveson avoided an early knee, landed a takedown off a kick, and quickly connected with a smashing elbow – a sign of what was to come. Peterson would never make it back to his feet, and Steveson would wind up smashing away, securing a first round TKO finish in Prior Lake, Minnesota, with training partner and UFC light heavyweight GOAT Jon Jones looking on.
Steveson arrives to MMA an Olympic gold medalist and NCAA star who originally went the Brock Lesnar route to pro wrestling’s WWE. After being cut by the company last year, Steveson opted to make the jump to MMA, where his skill set and a beyond shallow heavyweight division could make for a fast rise.
“I had a fantastic minute and thirty seconds, and I appreciate all you guys for coming,” Steveson said following the victory, giving credit to his team, including Jones and coach Greg Jackson. He also took a little potshot at Chael Sonnen (a former opponent of Jones) in a WWE-style promo to close out the night.
Steveson’s MMA ceiling remains to be seen, shallow division or not. He got off to a good start on Friday however, and could land on the Contender Series (or straight to the UFC) within a couple of years should all go well for the 25-year old.
Official Result: Gable Steveson def. Braden Peterson by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 1, 1:38