Coach Greg Jackson says UFC newcomer is the most talented athlete he's ever seen
Greg Jackson believes Gable
Steveson has the potential to redefine mixed martial arts.
The 26-year-old Olympic heavyweight wrestling gold medalist is set to make his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11. Ahead of his fight against Elisha Ellison, his coach has hyped up what he’s capable of.
Steveson won Olympic gold in heavyweight wrestling at the Tokyo Games in August 2021 and subsequently flirted with the idea of joining the UFC. He turned pro last year and, under the mentorship of Jon Jones, has extended his overall mixed martial arts record to 3-0, winning every fight via first-round finish.
Expectations are sky-high for Steveson as he prepares to make his Octagon debut and coach Jackson believes the Olympian could emerge as a transformational figure in the sport.
“I think, if you're a fan, you're gonna need to tune in to see what can this guy do,” Jackson said about Steveson on the UFC 329 “Embedded” video series. “He already won the Olympic gold medal at heavyweight in wrestling. That is so hard to do, I can't even tell you. Where is the ceiling? What can he accomplish? What can he do?”
Jackson, who has coached some of UFC’s biggest names, including Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Holly Holm, and Jones, further said about Steveson, “I've worked with most of the greatest fighters to ever do this game, and his athletic ability is unprecedented… The way he thinks about things, how smart he is, how coachable, you need to tune in now to see where the ceiling for this guy is. He might be redefining what this sport is.”
The 26-year-old Olympic heavyweight wrestling gold medalist is set to make his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11. Ahead of his fight against Elisha Ellison, his coach has hyped up what he’s capable of.
Gable Steveson’s olympic wrestling background fuels UFC expectations
Steveson won Olympic gold in heavyweight wrestling at the Tokyo Games in August 2021 and subsequently flirted with the idea of joining the UFC. He turned pro last year and, under the mentorship of Jon Jones, has extended his overall mixed martial arts record to 3-0, winning every fight via first-round finish.
Expectations are sky-high for Steveson as he prepares to make his Octagon debut and coach Jackson believes the Olympian could emerge as a transformational figure in the sport.
“I think, if you're a fan, you're gonna need to tune in to see what can this guy do,” Jackson said about Steveson on the UFC 329 “Embedded” video series. “He already won the Olympic gold medal at heavyweight in wrestling. That is so hard to do, I can't even tell you. Where is the ceiling? What can he accomplish? What can he do?”
Jackson, who has coached some of UFC’s biggest names, including Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Holly Holm, and Jones, further said about Steveson, “I've worked with most of the greatest fighters to ever do this game, and his athletic ability is unprecedented… The way he thinks about things, how smart he is, how coachable, you need to tune in now to see where the ceiling for this guy is. He might be redefining what this sport is.”
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