Now that he is signed, who should UFC put with Gable Steveson?

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TL;DR

Gable Steveson has officially signed a contract with the UFC and is set to make his debut during International Fight Week in Las Vegas this July. The former Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion is expected to bring significant attention to the promotion.

Gable Steveson

Now that he is signed, who should UFC put with Gable Steveson? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Over the weekend, UFC officials announced the signing of former amateur wrestling star Gable Steveson to a fight contract. Steveson is expected to make his debut inside the Octagon during International Fight Week in Las Vegas this July.

Steveson, who also briefly flirted with a pro wrestling career, captured gold in Tokyo at the Summer Olympics when he defeated Geno Petriashvili in the 125-kilogram finals, 10-8. He was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion while competing for Minnesota, returning after his Olympic victory and falling in the finals.

After that, Steveson put his entire focus on mixed martial arts, joining up with former UFC champion Jon Jones. He has scored three victories in three fights, with all three being first round knockouts.

Steveson also gave pro football a try, signing with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 before being cutting before the season started. He was signed with the WWE from 2021-to-2024.

Now that he is officially on board for the promotion, who could the UFC pair up to face Steveson in his debut? Here is a list of possible contenders to fill that void.

Potential Gable Steveson Opponents For UFC Debut

Marcin Tybura

A current member of the Top 15 in the official UFC heavyweight division rankings, Tybura would be a stiff test for Steveson right out of the gates. But he would also give him credibility with a win, as Tybura owns 27 victories, including 10 by knockout and seven via submission.

Ante Delija

Delija is ranked a couple spots ahead of Tybura, and might actually make a better fighter for Steveson in his second appearance inside the Octagon. But no time like the present, as he is coming off back-to-back defeats. Delija is a former winner of the PFL Heavyweight Tournament and is 26-8 overall.

Mick Parkin

The English heavyweight won his first four UFC fights, including a fifth on Dana White's Contender Series, before a decision loss to Tybura in March 2025. He showed his knockout skills when he finished Lukasz Brzeski in July 2024.