Gable Steveson’s rocky start to his MMA career has drawn a blunt assessment from one of the sport’s top free agents.
Steveson, an Olympic wrestling champion and former WWE performer, was knocked out in just 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf at UFC 331. It was a stunning result given Sharaf entered as a significant underdog.
Speaking to Red Corner MMA, former PFL and Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov didn’t see much of a future for Steveson in the sport, pointing out that his Olympic pedigree doesn’t extend to MMA and that he lacks amateur fighting experience.
He’s an Olympic champion, but not in MMA, he’s got no amateur experience.
Nurmagomedov acknowledged Steveson’s wrestling ability is legitimate at an elite level, but argued that wrestling alone doesn’t translate to mixed martial arts, since the sport also demands striking and fighting skills he doesn’t believe Steveson currently has. He closed by wishing Steveson a speedy recovery and framed the brutal finish as simply part of what can happen in MMA.
Yes, he’s a good wrestler, an Olympic-level wrestler, but he’s not a fighter nor a striker. But that is mixed martial arts. That includes everything. I wish him well; speedy recovery and future success. This is MMA. This kind of thing happens here.
With one highlight-reel loss now on his record, Steveson’s path forward in the sport is suddenly facing real scrutiny from established voices in the space.
