Unbeaten Gable Steveson backs himself to dominate any sport ahead of UFC 329 debut

Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson arrives at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a 3-0 MMA record and a confidence level to match, telling interviewers he believes he could reach the top of any sport he turned his hand to.

Steveson, a former NCAA wrestling champion, will face Elisha Ellison in his Octagon debut and enters the bout as a heavy favourite. The 24-year-old has been candid about the distinction between being told you have potential and genuinely believing it yourself.

“I think it’s a huge way to go out there and have people say, ‘Man, he could be the next big thing,’” Steveson said. “But I think when you believe that you can be the next big thing, that is a different story. Because other people say, ‘You can be,’ but you already know that you will be.”

He expanded on that mindset when asked about his broader athletic ambitions. “I believe I can be the best at anything,” he said. “I can play baseball, I can play soccer, I can go out there and play cricket, I can do anything I probably ever wanted. So, that’s my mindset.”

Beyond the rhetoric, Steveson has been methodical in his preparation. He has added former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones to his support team as he looks to build credibility inside the Octagon to match his decorated wrestling résumé.

Whether the boldness translates against Ellison remains to be seen, but Steveson has given little indication he intends to ease himself into the sport’s biggest stage quietly.