Steveson targets UFC heavyweight title 'as fast as possible' after rapid MMA rise

Gable Steveson has set his sights firmly on the UFC heavyweight title, telling reporters he wants it “as fast as possible” — while acknowledging he still has ground to cover before that moment arrives. The 26-year-old Olympic wrestling champion made his UFC debut at UFC 329 earlier this year, stopping Elisha Ellison by first-round TKO, and is already booked for a second fight against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 next month.

“I would like to say as fast as possible, but I would like to get my reps in, make sure the people know I earned my respect, and earned my time in the octagon,” Steveson said at the RAF 12 press conference. “And when that time comes, I’ll most definitely be ready.”

Speaking further after the press conference, Steveson credited training alongside Jon Jones with accelerating his development beyond initial expectations. “I think my progression has been great,” he said. “With Jon and a lot of guys in my corner, the progression has been faster than we thought. And obviously, with my last fight I introduced my kicks; I introduced knees this time. My next fight I’ll introduce something else and just keep building off that.”

Steveson was deliberately vague about a specific timeline, framing the journey in terms of respect rather than fight count. “Whether it’s eight fights, whether it’s five fights, whether it’s four, whether it’s six, it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “My goal right now is to earn the respect of the fans, earn the respect of the people, the higher-ups, earn the respect of myself. You’ve got to build the respect with the team and build the respect within yourself, and honor the cage, and get your reps in.”

One of the most hyped MMA prospects in recent memory, Steveson arrived in the sport in 2025 after stints in college football and professional wrestling following his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. His combination of elite wrestling credentials and raw athleticism has drawn widespread attention to his heavyweight ceiling.

Beyond the Sharaf fight, Steveson has already mapped out an ambitious schedule, targeting a return at Madison Square Garden before the end of the year. The pace is deliberate — he says he chose to fight again quickly rather than wait for the MSG card — reflecting a desire to accumulate octagon experience at a rate that matches his ambition.