Gable Steveson may be one of the most talked-about young names in mixed martial arts, but Curtis Blaydes does not think the Olympic champion is ready for the UFC just yet. Blaydes said Steveson still needs more time against stronger, more experienced heavyweights before a call-up to the sport’s biggest stage.
Blaydes, a top-ranked UFC heavyweight contender with a 19-5 professional record, said Steveson’s lack of reach could become a real problem against taller opponents who know how to sprawl. He said the 2020 Olympic freestyle heavyweight gold medalist has not faced that kind of test often enough and warned that a rushed move into the UFC could leave him exposed against elite talent.
Steveson, who is 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter, is scheduled to face UFC veteran Alexandr Romanov at RAF 09 in Arlington, Texas, on May 30, 2026. Blaydes said that matchup should tell a lot more about where Steveson stands, calling it a good test before any potential jump to the UFC.
That is what makes Steveson such a closely watched prospect: the wrestling pedigree is obvious, and the early results have been perfect, but the heavyweights at the top of the sport are a different kind of problem. Blaydes said he wants to see Steveson have to solve those problems first, instead of finding them out for the first time under the UFC lights.
Blaydes is set to face Josh Hokit at UFC 327, but his comments turned the focus toward the bigger question surrounding Steveson’s path. For a fighter with Olympic gold and a spotless pro record, the next few months may decide whether he looks like a future UFC contender or a prospect who still needs more seasoning.
