Gable Steveson has taken the combat sports world by storm.
The 21-year-old freestyle wrestler and 2021 NCAA heavyweight champion for the University of Minnesota made global headlines when he defeated three-time World Champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia to grab the Olympic gold medal for freestyle wrestling in a buzzer-beater finish.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED! š„@GableSteveson grabs the GOLD as time expires. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/yqMc3wbXsu
ā #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021
Since then, the combat sports world has been in the palm of Stevesonās hand.
Thereās wild speculation as to what could be next for Steveson, whether it be the NFL, WWE, or perhaps the UFC.
On Monday, the Olympic gold medalist sent shockwaves of speculation through social media when he offered a friendly wave to the president of the UFC, Dana White.
šš½ @danawhite
ā Gable Steveson (@GableSteveson) August 10, 2021
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As previously stated, Steveson is only 21-years-old. If the freestyle wrestling sensation decided to try his hand in the UFC at such a young age, there is an argument to be made that he could be one of the most intriguing MMA prospects of all-time.
Some figures in the sport agree.
Give @GableSteveson 18 months training MMA and tell me who on earth is beating him? Freaking NO ONE
ā Funky (@Benaskren) August 6, 2021
It is far too early to say Steveson will go the MMA route, with the WWE potentially courting him along with a possible foray into football.Ā
Nonetheless, Stevesonās signal to White is an encouraging sign to those who are eager to see him compete in Mixed Martial Arts one day.
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Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson gives cryptic wave to Dana White on Twitter