Gable Steveson ready for bright lights of MSG after debut at UFC 329

LAS VEGAS – Gable Steveson met the media Saturday after his win over Elisha Ellison at UFC 329.

Steveson (4-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) took out Ellison (5-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with a knockout halfway through the first round of their heavyweight featured fight on the prelims at T-Mobile Arena. Steveson's promotional debut had him as upwards of a 30-1 favorite at the sportsbooks – perhaps the largest number in UFC history.

Steveson made his name as a college wrestler at the University of Minnesota with two national titles, though it wasn't without controversy with an arrest for suspicion of sexual assault and subsequent suspension from the team, along with a teammate. A loophole in Minnesota law reportedly kept prosecutors from charging Steveson. He went on to win gold in the 2020 Olympics.

Finally in the UFC after a brief 3-0 start as a pro, Steveson said he's already looking toward the next level – perhaps at Madison Square Garden and the UFC's annual fall trip to New York.

"Today I'm going to enjoy the moment. Tomorrow I'm going to go home and enjoy it with my family. Monday I go back to work," Steveson said at his post-fight news conference. "If it means something fast and it comes quick, I would love to (fight again soon). But I think MSG is in November. MSG would be amazing – to go out there in Madison Square Garden … the last time I was in MSG, Jon Jones spinning back kicked Stipe (Miocic). So it would be cool to keep that legacy going in Madison Square Garden."

Steveson has been training with Jones, in part as he starts his MMA journey. Jones was in his corner at UFC 329 on Saturday against Ellison.

But Steveson said the comparisons to Jones will start to calm down eventually.

"They're training Gable Steveson to fight like Gable Steveson," he said "I've got great mentors in my corner. With the athleticism that I have, I can pull off a lot of things that Jon did. But with the height that I have, my explosiveness can get me to that point to close that distance a lot. Jon shows me what Jon knows best. He knows my body style, he knows what I can do and he knows what I'm going to do – because I don't think there's anything I can't do."

Check out Steveson's post-fight interview in the video above.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gable Steveson ready for bright lights of MSG after debut at UFC 329