Will Gable Steveson Succeed In The UFC?

Curtis Blaydes has issued a reality check for Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, saying he could struggle in the UFC.

While rumors suggest Steveson will be cageside this weekend at UFC 327, Blaydes argues that Steveson’s physical attributes—specifically his height—will create hurdles that wrestling talent alone cannot fix. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has stated Steveson will become a UFC champ, as he is currently a mentor to him. His current MMA record stands at 3-0, as he will make his RAF debut on May 30. While Blaydes has high hopes for Steveson, he also recognized that he could struggle.

“I think he’s a lot better grappler than [Josh Hokit], but he doesn’t have the reach, so I feel like that’s going to be an issue. It hasn’t been an issue yet, but you give him a longer guy who knows how to sprawl, and that could be a problem. So I’d like to see him have to figure that out before he gets to the UFC, I don’t want him to be overly rushed and get exposed…Who knows [that he’s ready] better than he does? If he believes it, then all power to him,” Blaydes said 

Will He Prosper?

Steveson is billed at approximately 6’1″, which is relatively short for a modern UFC heavyweight. Blaydes (who stands 6’4″) is in a division of other big heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Steveson’s most recent win was a dominant first-round TKO over Hugo Lezama at MFL 3 on February 19, 2026. Jones’ belief is that Steveson’s speed is “unprecedented” for a heavyweight, which could give him the edge, leaving people with plenty to ponder over his chances.