MMA prospect Gable Steveson has voiced strong agreement with UFC legend Jon Jones' bold prediction that he could rise quickly to become the heavyweight champion, emphasizing his unwavering self-confidence and the guidance from one of the sport's greats.
Though Steveson has yet to step into the UFC Octagon, his trajectory appears destined for the promotion. He has already delivered impressive performances in the nascent stages of his mixed martial arts career, with the trajectory pointing firmly upward, bolstered by having Jon Jones in his corner.
The UFC heavyweight division currently finds itself in a precarious state, particularly amid uncertainties surrounding champion Tom Aspinall. Observers suggest that injecting fresh star power, such as Steveson alongside figures like Rico Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, could revitalize the division.
In a recent interview, Steveson directly addressed Jones' assessment that he could claim a UFC world title within a year. “Yeah, I believe it,” Steveson said. “I believe it because I’ve got full confidence in myself, but with a guy like Jon kind of guiding the way for me, I feel like the confidence just goes through the roof. The best thing about it is, he sees me first-hand, training with him, hitting the pads and going through all the motions. His word is gold with that – and if it’s not next year, it’ll be soon after that. It just depends the way that the cards fall.”
Steveson also highlighted the unique pace of the heavyweight landscape. “I think it’s still the case that we’re going slow, but slow in the heavyweight division is fast,” he explained. He acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting, “There’s a lot of missing puzzle pieces in that division that need to be kind of maneuvered through. Like I said, mixed martial arts is a hard thing, so I take all the opponents, and give them the most respect I possibly can.”
Steveson's measured yet ambitious outlook underscores his respect for the sport's demands while aligning with Jones' high expectations, positioning him as a potential game-changer in a division hungry for new talent.
