Former WWE signee and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson won his professional mixed martial arts debut on Friday night.
Steveson defeated Braden Peterson by first-round technical knockout in the co-main event of LFA 217.
The heavyweight bout, held at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota, was stopped at the 1:38 mark of the opening round. Steveson used his wrestling prowess to secure a takedown just seconds into the fight and controlled Peterson on the mat, delivering ground-and-pound strikes until the referee intervened.
Gable Steveson MAULS Braden Peterson in the first round of his MMA debut.
WHAT A START TO HIS CAREER ? #LFA217 @LFAfighting pic.twitter.com/cN1zffVCU3
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 13, 2025
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones was in Steveson’s corner for the contest. Steveson had previously been a training partner for Jones.
The 25-year-old first signed with WWE in September 2021 in a deal that allowed him to continue his decorated amateur wrestling career. Despite making several appearances on WWE programming, he was released from his contract in May 2024.
Speaking at a press conference last November, Steveson said the timing was not right for him in WWE.
The WWE, just wasn’t the right time. I had a lot of competitive edge in me and they knew that and it was just — it was not the time for it and so maybe one day if the stars are aligned, it’ll be a great opportunity to do it again. I have no bad feelings with it, I have no bad blood with it and I would like to keep moving forward with everything I have going on.
With the victory, Steveson’s professional MMA record stands at 1-0. The event was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.
