If Mick Maynard and Dana White play their cards right, the UFC heavyweight division might just have a new gem on its hands. Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson made a statement in his DBX debut, and now he is already eyeing the bright lights of the Octagon. At DBX 4 in Nashville, the American powerhouse knocked out Billy Swanson in just 13 seconds, delivering a jaw-dropping finish that sent shockwaves through the arena. With a special guest watching from the crowd, Steveson wasted no time throwing his hat into the UFC ring.
Gable Steveson Stuns the MMA World With Knockout Win Over Billy Swanson in Nashville
Gable Steveson, who has a single official MMA fight on his record, looked calm and confident right from the opening bell. He immediately closed the distance, snapping a jab into Swanson’s face before landing a devastating uppercut that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
The Olympic gold medalist quickly followed up with a flurry of standing strikes until referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the contest. This dominant 13-second knockout improved Steveson’s combat sports record to 2-0, building on his first-round win over Braden Peterson at LFA 217 in September.
GABLE STEVESON 13 SECOND KNOCKOUT IN HIS DIRTY BOXING DEBUT!!!! #DBX4 pic.twitter.com/9P7TPGnWGa
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 31, 2025
After years of hinting at a move to MMA, the highly decorated wrestler is wasting no time making his mark. Following the win, Steveson took the mic and called out UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, who was in attendance in Tennessee for the night.
Steveson told Jason Anik, “I think a special guest was here to kinda watch me, but I’m just not sure where he is.”
UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard was in attendance for Gable Steveson’s first round knockout at #DBX4
“Mick, you’ve seen a little bit. I’d love to show a lot more.” 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/TFdye0CRI0
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 31, 2025
He added, “His name is Mick Maynard with the UFC. And he’s right there. So Mick, you’ve seen a little bit. I would love to show a lot more. And hopefully you believe in me and I appreciate you.”
Jon Jones Opens Up About Mentoring Gable Steveson and Taking the Olympian Under His Wing
Adding even more intrigue to Steveson’s journey is his connection with Jon Jones, widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Jones has taken the Olympian under his wing, famously calling him a human cheat code.
In fact, Jones once predicted that Steveson would eventually become a UFC champion, writing on social media, “I found my guy and I’m excited to add world championship coach to my resume.”
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For those unfamiliar, Steveson’s athletic path has been anything but ordinary. After winning Olympic gold in 2020, he returned to college to use his final year of eligibility before signing a lucrative deal with WWE. However, his time in professional wrestling didn’t go as planned, and he was eventually released from his contract.
Not one to give up easily, Steveson then tried his hand at football, joining the Buffalo Bills for their 2024 training camp despite never having played the sport before. He didn’t make the final roster but did receive interest in joining the practice squad.
Instead, he chose to return to the University of Minnesota to wrestle one final season. But that resulted in a shocking defeat at the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships in March. And for a time, many wondered what Steveson’s next move would be.
But after his explosive victory at DBX 4, it seems the 25-year-old may have finally found his true calling, and if this performance is any indication, the world of MMA might have just discovered its next big heavyweight star.
