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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson is set to make his professional mixed martial arts debut. The MMA promotion Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) has officially announced that the former WWE prospect has signed with the company and will have his first fight next month.
The move marks the latest chapter in the post-Olympic journey of the celebrated amateur wrestler. His previous ventures into professional wrestling and the NFL did not pan out as expected.
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The Next Chapter
In a post on their X account on Wednesday, LFA announced that Gable Steveson has signed with the company. It was also confirmed that he will make his fighting debut at their LFA 217 event on Friday, September 12.
This will be Steveson's first official, professional combat sports contest. Time will tell if he can find success in the world of MMA.
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
A Can't-Miss Prospect
Gable Steveson became a household name after his dramatic, last-second victory to capture the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The win made the 21-year-old NCAA Champion one of the hottest free agents in all of sports.
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He was immediately compared to Kurt Angle, another Olympic Gold medalist who became one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. A bidding war for his services ensued between WWE, the UFC, and the NFL.
The WWE Experiment Fails
Steveson ultimately signed a unique and lucrative contract with WWE in 2021. Despite the immense hype, his tenure with the company never got off the ground. After several non-wrestling appearances on the main roster, he eventually made his in-ring debut for the NXT brand in July 2023.
His one and only televised match, against Baron Corbin, was met with a negative reaction from the crowd and ended in a disappointing double count-out. He was quietly released from his WWE contract in 2024. After his release, he briefly signed with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, but that also proved to be a short-lived venture.
Now, the Olympian is hoping that the third time is the charm. He will look to translate his world-class amateur wrestling skills into a successful career in the world of mixed martial arts.
More WWE News:
- Released WWE Superstar Retires From Pro Wrestling
- Released WWE Star Breaks Silence On Departure
- Released WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
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