Gable Steveson's choice to compete at DBX 4 after his impressive MMA debut has raised eyebrows. But is it a smart move, or a potential setback? The Olympic gold medalist is diving headfirst into the world of 'Dirty Boxing,' a decision that's sparked considerable debate within the combat sports community.
Steveson, a wrestler of immense pedigree, recently made his highly anticipated MMA debut at LFA 217 in September. He secured a dominant victory over Braden Peterson, stopping him in just 98 seconds. This win was widely seen as the first step towards a promising career in the UFC. But instead of continuing down the expected MMA path, the 25-year-old is now set to headline DBX 4 this Thursday in Nashville against Bellator veteran Billy Swanson.
So, why the sudden detour?
Despite his impressive showing in the cage, Steveson wasn't entirely satisfied with his performance. He believes he has more aspects of his fighting game to showcase and refine. "Of course, there’s so many places that I want to get better in, and that’s why I signed up for DBX 4, just because I want to answer those questions,” Steveson told MMA Fighting. He elaborated, "You saw a fast takedown. You saw ground and pound, you saw elbows... but how about we test the striking? Let’s see the hands and elbows on the feet. Let's have this guy fall in a round and get on top of him and take care of business."
Essentially, Steveson wants to prove he's not just a wrestler with effective ground-and-pound. He wants to demonstrate his striking prowess. "That’s a question that needs to be answered, and I’m ready to answer that question," he stated. He emphasized that he wouldn't have agreed to compete in Dirty Boxing if he wasn't prepared. He has the backing of his coach, Jon Jones, whom he trusts implicitly. "So Oct. 30, man, we’re going to show the world that that I can stand on the feet and I can be that guy, and I can’t take a guy down and I can be the guy up on the feet and do both, and so that’s why I’m so excited about this.”
The decision is controversial, and this is the part most people miss: Steveson is deliberately stepping outside his comfort zone.
The prevailing expectation was that Steveson would continue honing his MMA skills in the LFA cage. However, DBX presents a unique challenge. The custom ruleset prohibits takedowns and penalizes stalling in the clinch – a significant departure from Steveson's wrestling background. This forces him to rely on his striking and stand-up game, a calculated risk that could pay off handsomely.
When asked if he would've predicted his next fight would be in Dirty Boxing after his LFA win, Steveson admitted, “Probably not, but if you was me and you saw it the way I saw it, I think it’s a great, great opportunity to show the world that we need to answer questions.” He emphasized his desire to be a complete fighter, stating, “I don’t want to go into fights having people not know that I can’t be complete and that I can’t go out there and be the guy that I want to be. And like we talked about, [they saw] take down, ground and pound, and now they’re going to see a great performance from me standing up and, and just getting busy. …
“I don’t want you to clinch me. I want to go out there and we’re going to stand face to face, and I want to look into your eyes and let you know that I’m coming for you; and that’s the best thing about this. I think that’s the real reason why I wanted to come out to Dirty Boxing on Oct. 30 in Nashville, to go out there and show everybody… and be like, ‘Hey, can this question be answered?’ And it most definitely can be answered because I got all the answers to the test before I even go out there.”
Steveson's opponent, Billy Swanson, brings a wealth of experience to the table, having competed in Bellator, PFL, and BKFC. He's also a former Alabama Fighting Championship heavyweight champion. However, Swanson is currently on a losing streak, without a victory in over four years. This fight represents a significant opportunity for him to regain momentum and score a major upset.
While Swanson undoubtedly aims to shock the world, Steveson intends to make a statement of his own.
“I think on Oct. 31, which is a Friday, I’ll be back home and I’ll be reading headlines saying that Gable Steveson can strike, Gable Steveson can be that guy that can compete at the highest level of heavyweight, and Gable Steveson made us believe in him — on his feet, on the ground, and everywhere else,” Steveson confidently predicted. “And Oct. 30, man, you’re going to see. I’m excited to show it.“
But here's where it gets controversial... Is Dirty Boxing the right platform for Steveson to showcase his striking, or is he potentially jeopardizing his momentum by stepping away from the traditional MMA path?
What do you think? Will Steveson's gamble pay off, or will Swanson pull off a stunning upset? Share your predictions in the comments below!
