Gable Steveson is set for his third MMA fight. On Sunday, the former Olympic gold medalist was announced to be fighting Hugo Lezama at Mexico Fight League 3 next month.
The social media post about the booking called Steveson “the No. 1 heavyweight prospect in the world”, and not without good reason: he is one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers ever. The unfortunate thing, however, is that he may also draw comparisons to another highly-hyped and controversial prospect who eventually washed out: Greg Hardy.
To understand where this comparison come from, it helps to study the past.
NFL players converting to mixed martial arts is nothing new. Herschel Walker was a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, but Hardy was different. Unlike Walker, he was in his physical prime when he made the switch, being only 29 at the time of his first fight
Hardy’s reason for switching was not good, however: he had been blacklisted from the NFL because of domestic violence. Nevertheless, Dana White thought he would provide much-needed youth and star power to an aging heavyweight division. Thus, after three straight wins (albeit the last being overturned because of illegal use of an inhaler), he stepped up on short notice to fight Alexander Volkov.
The win did not happen, as Volkov proved that “there are levels to this game”. Hardy rebounded with two straight wins, but that was the beginning of the end. He proceeded to lose three straight against ranked opponents after that and was released.
All the while, fans rejoiced whenever he lost – a malicious glee usually reserved for the likes of Travis Fulton, who hanged himself after being indicted for sex crimes.
Speaking of sex crimes, Steveson himself would be implicated in a rape case. Unlike Hardy, he was not formally charged, let alone convicted, because of a legal loophole, but the stigma has since followed him.
Memorably, Steveson washed out of WWE after a disastrous stint in NXT that saw Baron Corbin of all people get cheered during his debut match. He then tried to join the NFL with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad, but that also went nowhere. It was as if people prayed for him to fail because of his past scandal and got their wishes granted.
The story will be no different in MMA. Lezama is the most experienced opponent Steveson will face, and some are praying that the prospect loses. What is likelier is that Steveson will win in dominant fashion, then either join the UFC immediately or get booked in Dana White’s Contender Series.
Should Steveson make it to the Octagon, the pressure he faces will be intense. Henry Cejudo and Kayla Harrison also faced pressure before entering the UFC, but they met expectations. If Steveson fails to emulate them, it will be the greatest failure of his life, and people will rejoice.
It is no secret that heavyweight is currently a mess. Tom Aspinall will undergo multiple eye surgeries after his no-contest against Ciryl Gane, while divisional mainstays like Derrick Lewis and Marcin Tybura refuse to age.
One of only a few notable prospects is Valter Walker, who enters his fight against Tybura on the heels of four straight heel hook wins. Still, the UFC is desperate for a new all-American face, and Steveson, for all his faults, may be Dana White’s best bet…
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