Steveson can see himself making UFC debut at White House event in 2026
Gable Steveson speaks to MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura ahead of his main event bout at Dirty Boxing Championship 4 on Oct. 30.
The UFC plans to host an event at the White House in 2026, and American Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson sees it as a serious possibility for him to make his octagon debut.
“You’re not crazy – you’re not crazy,” Steveson told MMA Junkie when asked about the possibility of him debuting at the White House. “I think it would be a great thing to have an Olympic champion, and USA Wresting’s finest – there hadn’t been an Olympic champion in 20 years, and somehow I captured that at 21 years old – so you’re not far off in saying that Gable Steveson could be at the White House representing USA and walking out with that flag and go through anybody who steps in front of me. I believe it. I believe it.”
There may be a race against the clock, though, as Steveson, a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and a two-time NCAA Division-I national champion, just made his MMA debut last month. He picked up a dominant, first-round TKO in LFA.
With the White House event being targeted for June 14, 2026, Steveson will just have about eight months to gain as much MMA experience as possible while also preparing and doing a camp for the potential debut at the White House. Yet, Steveson is confident his ascension will be a quick, as seen with other elite level wrestlers.
“I think very fast – very fast,” Steveson said in regard to his path to the UFC. “With the calls to the right people and making sure that I’m on time, I think it will be very quick.”
Steveson also revealed to MMA Junkie that he’s already been in contact with the UFC. After all, he’s the most promising prospect in MMA today and arguably one of the biggest in the history of the sport.
“It’s just a great organization, and I’m focused on becoming a champ in that, also,” Steveson said. “There’s always been talks there with the guys that need to be talked to, but my main thing is one step at a time, and Oct. 30 is Step 2.”
Steveson returns to combat sports Oct. 30 in the main event of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship 4 in Nashville, Tenn. He takes on former PFL and Bellator fighter Billy Swanson. Dirty Boxing Championship is strictly a striking promotion, similar to boxing but with modified rules. Steveson will have to solely rely on his striking, and not his wrestling.
