JRE MMA Show #172 with Gable Steveson
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Gable Steveson was named after legendary wrestler Dan Gable, a prophetic start to his Olympic gold medal career.
- ❖He had no prior football experience before trying out for the Buffalo Bills at age 24, impressing with effort alone.
- ❖Steveson's MMA journey was ignited by training with Jon Jones, who became a crucial mentor, teaching him fight IQ and life lessons.
- ❖He views his early MMA performances, including a knockout in a dirty boxing match, as 'the worst I'll ever be,' highlighting his rapid improvement trajectory.
- ❖Steveson prioritizes continuous skill development and maintains a high baseline of fitness, avoiding short-notice fights to ensure peak performance.
- ❖Joe Rogan and Steveson agree the UFC Heavyweight division is 'shallow,' creating a significant opportunity for a talent like Steveson.
- ❖Steveson's goal is to become UFC Heavyweight Champion and surpass Stipe Miocic's record of five title defenses.
Insights
1Olympic Wrestling Base as an MMA Foundation
Gable Steveson's Olympic gold medal in wrestling provides an unparalleled foundation for MMA. Joe Rogan notes that the ability to dictate where a fight takes place is paramount, and wrestling instills mental toughness, discipline, and conditioning 'above and beyond all other sports.' Steveson recognizes the need to adapt traditional wrestling for MMA, focusing on cage work, trip setups, and defending submissions during takedowns.
Joe Rogan: 'Not only is it the best base for MMA because if a guy can dictate where the fight takes place, that is the most important aspect of fighting... it's like the mental toughness that wrestlers have, the ability to grind out those practices, the conditioning that's involved in wrestling, it's above and beyond, I think, all other sports.' Gable: 'The guys that are dominating and winning are kind of putting that wrestling base first, but making it MMA wrestling.'
2The Transformative Power of Elite Mentorship (Jon Jones)
Gable Steveson's transition to MMA was profoundly shaped by his mentorship with Jon Jones. Jones not only provided a training partner but also instilled fight IQ, strategic thinking, and guidance on navigating the complexities of fame and business. This direct, personal mentorship from a 'GOAT' accelerated Steveson's development and solidified his commitment to MMA.
Gable: 'He really I needed somebody to kind of engrave it in me.' 'I really sat back and like watched his mental and like how he went about a lot of things... I was like, 'Damn, I want to be that.'' Joe: 'What an amazing opportunity. You know, you haven't done any MMA and you get to go in there and train with the GOAT.' Gable: 'He's still here in my corner to this day. We talked this morning. He's still giving me all the pointers, all the advice even when we're not even fighting... how I need to go about life, how I need to go about business and and meeting people and and greeting people.'
3Strategic Career Progression in Combat Sports
Both Rogan and Steveson advocate for a deliberate, non-rushed approach to a fighter's career, especially for highly touted prospects. They emphasize avoiding short-notice fights and taking time to develop skills and gain experience in smaller promotions before entering the UFC. This strategy allows a fighter to enter the top league fully prepared and with a complete skillset, maximizing their potential for dominance.
Joe: 'If I was a manager of like a boxer and a guy with your potential, I would do what Customado did with Mike Tyson. You have them fight a bunch of different guys like you did with Dirty Boxing, small organization, MMA fights, build up those skills, get get a lot of experience... And then once you enter into the UFC, you're essentially already the champion.' Gable: 'No short notice. Like, if you need me in a week, I look good. I'm ready. But, um, we just take our time.'
4The 'Shallow' UFC Heavyweight Division and Steveson's Opportunity
The current UFC Heavyweight division is described as 'shallow' by Joe Rogan, lacking a deep pool of compelling championship-caliber fighters beyond a few names. This creates a significant opportunity for a unique talent like Gable Steveson, whose elite wrestling, combined with rapidly developing striking and exceptional athleticism, positions him to quickly ascend and potentially revitalize the division.
Joe: 'The heavyweight division is so shallow right now.' 'When I watched you move and I watched you fight, I was like, 'Okay, how do you stop that?'... in my mind, there's like only a few guys where it's going to be a problem.' Gable: 'You're gonna always say it's really shallow, and I believe it's shallow, too, and I believe I can go out there and and do the best I can and really dominate.'
5The Mindset of Continuous Improvement: 'Worst I'll Ever Be'
Steveson embodies a mindset of relentless self-improvement, stating that his current performance is 'the worst I'll ever be.' This perspective drives him to constantly train and absorb information, believing that his potential is limitless. This mental approach, honed through Olympic-level wrestling, is critical for adapting and excelling in a new, complex sport like MMA.
Gable: 'In the nicest way possible, I really want to say this. That's the worst I'll ever be.' 'I'm obsessed with being the best version of Gable because I'm the if I'm the best version of the Gable, you're not going to be able to beat me.'
Bottom Line
The lack of a major professional wrestling league means elite wrestlers often transition to MMA or other sports for career viability, despite wrestling being a highly exciting and understandable sport.
This forces a talent drain from pure wrestling, potentially limiting its growth as a standalone spectator sport and pushing top athletes into other combat disciplines.
Investing in and promoting a high-stakes, professional wrestling league (like 'RAF' mentioned) could capture a dedicated audience and provide a viable career path for wrestlers, retaining talent within the sport.
UFC Heavyweight division is perceived as 'shallow' with few compelling championship-caliber fighters, creating a unique vacuum for new talent.
This makes it easier for a highly athletic and skilled newcomer like Gable Steveson to rapidly ascend to the top ranks, potentially bypassing a long climb through contenders.
The UFC could actively scout and fast-track exceptional athletes from other combat sports (like Olympic wrestling) into the heavyweight division, capitalizing on the opportunity to create new stars and exciting matchups.
The current MMA glove design with exposed fingers contributes significantly to eye pokes, a common and potentially career-ending foul.
Fighters suffer injuries, fights are interrupted, and outcomes can be unfairly influenced, detracting from the sport's integrity and fighter safety.
Develop and implement a new MMA glove design (e.g., a 'mitten' style with covered fingertips) that prevents eye pokes without hindering grappling. This could significantly improve fighter safety and fight quality.
Opportunities
Professional Wrestling League (RAF)
Develop and heavily promote a professional wrestling league, potentially building on existing efforts like 'American Freestyle' (RAF). The goal is to create an exciting, sustainable professional outlet for elite wrestlers, complete with compelling matchups and star development, to retain talent within pure wrestling.
MMA Glove Redesign for Eye Poke Prevention
Design and manufacture MMA gloves that cover the fingertips, similar to a mitten, while still allowing for grappling and striking. This would significantly reduce eye pokes, improve fighter safety, and enhance the integrity of fights.
Animal Longevity Startups
Invest in or develop startups focused on extending the lifespan of pets, particularly dogs, through medical interventions and scientific research. This addresses a significant emotional need for pet owners and a growing market for animal health and wellness.
Key Concepts
Protect Your Focus
Joe Rogan emphasizes that focus is a finite resource. Any attention diverted to distractions (haters, personal drama, external pressures) robs from the energy and mental bandwidth needed for excellence. Elite performance requires guarding this focus fiercely.
Excellence Over Outcome
Both Steveson and Rogan highlight that true success and longevity come from an unwavering commitment to excellence in one's craft, rather than solely chasing money or fame. Focusing on being the best version of oneself naturally leads to desired outcomes.
Lessons
- Seek out and embrace elite mentorship: Gable's experience with Jon Jones demonstrates how guidance from a top-tier expert can accelerate development and provide invaluable insights beyond technical skills.
- Cultivate an 'all ears' mindset for rapid learning: Be open and receptive to coaching, soaking up knowledge from those who have 'shown the way,' especially when entering a new domain.
- Prioritize continuous skill development over immediate gratification: Consistently work on improving your craft, viewing current abilities as a baseline for future growth, rather than chasing quick wins or external validation.
- Strategically manage your career path: Avoid rushing into high-stakes situations without adequate preparation; instead, build experience and refine skills in a controlled environment to maximize long-term success.
- Protect your focus and energy: Actively identify and eliminate distractions (e.g., negative influences, unnecessary external pressures) that detract from your core pursuit of excellence.
Blueprint for Elite Combat Sports Transition
Establish an unparalleled base in a core combat discipline (e.g., Olympic-level wrestling).
Identify and secure mentorship from a legendary figure in the target sport, prioritizing comprehensive guidance (technical, mental, career).
Adopt an 'all ears' approach to learning, rapidly absorbing new techniques and strategies, even in areas where initial proficiency is low (e.g., striking).
Engage in continuous, rigorous training focused on skill integration and physical conditioning, maintaining a high baseline of readiness.
Strategically plan career progression, gaining experience in lower-stakes environments before entering the top tier, and avoiding premature, short-notice opportunities.
Cultivate a mindset of relentless self-improvement, viewing every performance as a stepping stone and believing in limitless potential ('the worst I'll ever be').
Develop a strong personal brand that balances elite competitive persona with genuine human connection, leveraging media opportunities to build relatability.
Notable Moments
Gable Steveson's 'Dirty Boxing' knockout and post-fight leap over the ring.
This moment showcased Steveson's explosive athleticism and rapidly developing striking, surprising many given his primary wrestling background. The dramatic leap underscored his natural showmanship and physical prowess, signaling his potential as a major MMA star.
Jon Jones developing a perfect spinning back kick at 36 years old.
This highlights Jones' exceptional fight IQ and commitment to continuous skill development late in his career. It demonstrates that even established legends can evolve their game, adding powerful new techniques to remain dominant, and serves as an example for Steveson's own growth.
Gable Steveson's NFL tryout with the Buffalo Bills without prior football experience.
This illustrates Steveson's extraordinary raw athleticism and confidence. To try out for a professional football team at an elite level with no prior experience, and to impress with sheer effort, speaks volumes about his physical gifts and mental fortitude, which are transferable across sports.
Quotes
"Excellence is what brings you the money. Excellence is what brings you the fame. And the moment you start thinking about the fame and the money and not thinking about the excellence, you've lost your way."
"He's still here in my corner to this day. We talked this morning. Um he's still giving me all the pointers, all the advice even when we're not even fighting. um just telling me how I should say things, what I should say, how I need to go about life, how I need to go about um business and and meeting people and and greeting people."
"I never used to watch people wrestle. Like I I went out there on a limb and I was just beating guys. Even in Olympics, I never watched anyone wrestle. I never watched their film."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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