Ex-WWE Star, Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson Dominates Ex-UFC Star Ahead of McGregor Card Debut

As he prepares for his UFC debut, Gable Steveson had a strong showing in much more comfortable surroundings.

The 2020 Olympic gold medalist cruised past Alexandr Romanov at Saturday's Real American Freestyle event. He won by technical fall in the second period.

Steveson was up 10-0 when Romanov waved the white flag.

This was Steveson's first freestyle wrestling match since losing to Wyatt Hendrickson in the final of the 2025 NCAA tournament. Having signed a multi-fight deal with RAF in March, he wasted no time in looking toward his next bout.

"I have three matches in RAF that I really want," he said, per MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. "Next up I would like Abdulrashid Sadulaev and there's a guy from Iran named Amir Hossein Zare, he's the best heavyweight right now, we'll go for my third match. If you want it, I'm here."

Sadulaev is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was the 2024 world champion. Zare has likewise thrived on the biggest stage. A three-time world champion at 125 kg, he was the silver medalist in the 2024 Olympics.

Before he gets back on the mat, Steveson will enter the Octagon. He's signed to fight Elisha Ellison at UFC 329 in July, an occasion that's headlined by Conor McGregor's return to MMA.

Steveson is 3-0 as a pro, most recently beating Hugo Lezama by first-round TKO in February.