The Joe Rogan Experience

JRE MMA Show #172 with Gable Steveson

January 1, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Gable Steveson's name is prophetic, inspired by wrestling legend Dan Gable, though his career path includes MMA, which Dan Gable did not pursue. 
  • Wrestling is considered the best base for MMA due to its control over fight location and the unparalleled mental toughness and conditioning it instills. 
  • Gable Steveson's transition into MMA was heavily influenced by training with Jon Jones, whose superstar status and elite fight IQ served as a major catalyst for Steveson's commitment to the sport. 
  • The inherent unpredictability and extreme danger of bull riding, where a bull's actions cannot be reliably controlled or prepared for, makes it significantly scarier than controlled stunts like car jumps. 
  • Gable Steveson views his initial striking performance in Dirty Boxing as the weakest he will ever be in MMA, expressing extreme confidence that his potential in striking is limitless given his wrestling base. 
  • The conversation highlights a strong preference for focused, dedicated training in individual skills (like Ilya Topuria's approach) over immediately blending all MMA disciplines, contrasting with Steveson's current method of incorporating everything daily. 
  • The discussion heavily critiques the design of current MMA gloves, suggesting that covering the fingertips like a mitten would significantly reduce eye pokes, which are seen as both accidental and purposeful fouls. 
  • Gable Steveson and Joe Rogan emphasize that maintaining personal focus and resisting the distractions of fame and money are crucial for long-term excellence, as focusing on external validation leads to losing one's way. 
  • Gable Steveson's career blueprint involves gaining more experience outside the UFC, debuting at the White House, and ultimately aiming to surpass Stipe Miocic's record for UFC Heavyweight title defenses, all while striving to be an excellent man. 

Segments

Gable Steveson’s Name Origin
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(00:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson was named after wrestling legend Dan Gable after his mother heard the name repeatedly at a tournament in Iowa.
  • Summary: Gable Steveson’s mother considered the name Kale Sanderson but was inspired to name him Gable Dan after hearing Dan Gable’s name frequently at a wrestling tournament in Iowa. This naming felt prophetic given his subsequent Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Steveson noted that his timeline mirrors Gable’s, except for the addition of MMA to his own career path.
State of Professional Wrestling
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(00:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: There is a perceived lack of a major professional outlet for pure wrestling outside of MMA or pro wrestling.
  • Summary: The conversation lamented the lack of a significant professional outlet for pure wrestling, though they mentioned the efforts of the ‘American Freestyle’ (RAF) organization. They noted that wrestling needs a way to create compelling matchups and build stars, similar to how fighting sports create ’the next big thing.’ The popularity of MMA currently overshadows standalone professional wrestling.
Wrestling Base in MMA
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(00:06:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Wrestling provides the best base for MMA because controlling where the fight takes place is the most crucial aspect of fighting.
  • Summary: Wrestlers possess superior mental toughness, conditioning, and the ability to dictate fight location, which is paramount in MMA. Dominant UFC fighters are now successfully integrating ‘MMA wrestling’ by mastering the right shots, finishes, and cage work, rather than just traditional wrestling techniques. Developing striking alongside this base forces opponents to respect both aspects of the game.
Striking Experience and Coachability
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(00:09:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson began dedicated striking training only seven months prior to this conversation, emphasizing coachability as key to rapid skill acquisition.
  • Summary: Steveson started hitting pads around age 21, guided by a local fighter, but committed to serious striking only seven months before the podcast. He stressed that elite athletes must be coachable, willing to put in double or triple sessions, and trust their coaches to absorb game effectively. Elite performance requires putting the ego down and trusting mentors, which Steveson actively practices.
NFL Tryout Experience
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(00:11:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson tried out for the Buffalo Bills as a defensive lineman despite having zero prior football experience, relying solely on effort.
  • Summary: Steveson had never played football before his tryout with the Bills, admitting he didn’t even know how to wear the gear or understand the playbook. He impressed coaches like Sean McDermott purely through sprinting effort, leading to a brief stint where he recorded a tackle and a QB rush in his first game. After being cut, he had brief tryouts with the Ravens and Colts before returning to wrestling.
Transition to MMA and Jon Jones Influence
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(00:15:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Training with Jon Jones after the Olympics was the definitive moment that solidified Gable Steveson’s commitment to pursuing MMA.
  • Summary: Steveson initially wanted to try other sports before fully committing to MMA, which had been in the back of his mind since the Olympics. He connected with Jon Jones via Instagram, who invited him to train, and observing Jones’s superstar status and meticulous approach to fighting ’engraved’ the path forward for Steveson. Jones continues to mentor Steveson daily on fighting, business, and life, viewing him as a future star.
Jon Jones’s Elite Fight IQ
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(00:25:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Jon Jones’s greatest asset is his elite fight IQ, characterized by meticulous game planning and the ability to develop new, fight-ending techniques late in his career.
  • Summary: Jones is praised for never taking short-notice fights, instead studying tendencies and game-planning for every opponent, which is the ‘mind behind the car.’ He developed a perfect spinning back kick late in his career by working with a specialized coach, demonstrating a commitment to continuous skill acquisition. Steveson observed Jones practicing this kick the night before his Stipe Miocic fight, confirming it was a planned strategy.
Stunt Fear and Bull Riding Danger
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(00:48:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Riding bulls is perceived as the scariest stunt because the animal’s unpredictable intent makes preparation impossible, unlike controlled stunts.
  • Summary: The speakers discussed being scared during stunt work, highlighting bull riding as the most terrifying activity due to the lack of predictability. Stuntmen are recognized as exceptionally brave individuals, but they cannot fully account for a bull’s actions. The risk of death from being stomped by a bull is a real possibility, especially for non-professional riders.
Bull Riders’ Physical Toll
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(00:49:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Professional bull riders often suffer severe, long-term physical damage, including destroyed shoulders and fused spinal discs, as the price of their sport.
  • Summary: A professional bull rider shared that his shoulder was so destroyed it frequently popped out of its socket, illustrating the physical destruction involved. The long-term consequences include stiff bodies, fused discs, and spinal issues later in life. This severe physical toll is considered the price paid for achieving greatness in bull riding.
Thrills vs. Controlled Risks
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(00:52:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson prefers controlled risks like fighting over inherently unpredictable activities like bungee jumping or zip-lining.
  • Summary: Steveson stated that outside of fighting, the stunts he participated in felt like the scariest things he had done, indicating a strong aversion to ‘dumb risks.’ He prefers activities where you fall into water, like wake surfing, over high-altitude activities. He noted that while skydiving involves equipment checks, bull riding offers no safeguards against catastrophic injury.
Ezekiel Mitchell and Bull Power
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(00:51:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The sheer athleticism of a 2,000-pound bull can launch a rider nearly vertically, creating an immense danger of fatal impact upon landing.
  • Summary: The discussion highlighted the incredible athleticism of bulls, exemplified by Ezekiel Mitchell’s ride where the bull performed movements akin to a handspring with a rider aboard. The force generated by a bull landing on a person is calculated to be insane, posing an immediate risk of a pulverized head if the rider falls incorrectly.
Fighting Nerves vs. Wrestling Calm
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(00:56:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The first professional fight induced intense physical nervousness, contrasting sharply with the anxious but controlled performance mindset experienced during wrestling matches.
  • Summary: Steveson described his heart pounding during his first fight because the atmosphere signaled a life-or-death confrontation (‘it’s me or you’). His coach helped calm him by reframing the 2,000-person crowd as similar to the smaller crowds he wrestled in front of. After that initial fight, his subsequent striking performance in Dirty Boxing was driven by a desire to kill, not just compete.
Calculated Striking Handicap
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(00:57:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Steveson intentionally handicapped himself in his Dirty Boxing fight by focusing purely on striking to prove his capabilities beyond his wrestling base to casual viewers.
  • Summary: The decision to have a pure striking fight was calculated to showcase his abilities outside of wrestling, aiming to provide a great show for the audience. His knockout victory and subsequent celebration demonstrated his high level of athleticism despite being relatively new to striking. Steveson believes this performance represents the weakest he will ever be in MMA.
MMA Training Philosophies Compared
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(01:00:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Steveson integrates all MMA skills (boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling) into daily workouts, contrasting with Ilya Topuria’s approach of isolating and mastering each skill individually before combining them.
  • Summary: Steveson’s current training involves rotating rounds dedicated to boxing, kicks/knees, and MMA blueprint drills, often training for 10-12 five-minute rounds daily. This approach contrasts with Topuria, who spends exorbitant time honing each skill in isolation before integrating them for MMA competition. The diversity of successful MMA training approaches shows there is no single ‘best way’ to become elite.
The Mindset of Elite Competitors
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(01:06:19)
  • Key Takeaway: The ability to become an Olympic gold medalist stems from an unshakeable mindset, suggesting that such discipline applied to any pursuit guarantees elite status.
  • Summary: The mindset is the crucial factor that allows someone to achieve elite status, overriding mere athletic ability or hard work alone. Steveson believes he beats many opponents before stepping out because he possesses this internal certainty of domination. He prefers a small, tight coaching circle, avoiding numerous external coaches that can dilute focus and connection.
Training Consistency and Fatherhood
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(01:09:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Steveson maintains constant, high-intensity training to avoid feeling ‘fat’ and ensures he is always ready for a fight, even while preparing for the birth of his daughter.
  • Summary: Steveson is currently training in Minneapolis with Billy Simon but conducts main training camps in New Mexico at Jackson Wink. He continues to lift with the University of Minnesota college wrestling team, focusing on explosive work and light weights to maintain strength without stiffness. He prefers continuous training so his heart rate baseline remains high, allowing him to be fight-ready on short notice, though he prefers planned camps.
Boxing Politics and Crawford’s Stance
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(01:15:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The proliferation of sanctioning bodies in boxing dilutes the prestige of a championship belt, contrasting with the UFC’s singular dominance in MMA perception.
  • Summary: Terence Crawford was stripped of a title for refusing to pay a $300,000 sanctioning fee, which the speakers found outrageous given the fighter’s proven skill. Boxing has too many organizations (WBC, WBA, etc.), whereas the UFC belt holds the ultimate prestige in combat sports. The Ring Magazine belt is noted as historically the most prestigious, representing the true unified champion.
Heavyweight Division and Athletic Freaks
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(01:32:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The UFC heavyweight division is considered shallow, but the sport overall is seeing unprecedented athletic freaks due to early, optimized training regimens.
  • Summary: The heavyweight division lacks depth compared to lighter classes, presenting an opportunity for Gable Steveson to make an impact. The conversation noted that modern athletes are bigger and faster due to early, optimized strength and plyometric training starting at younger ages. Boxers like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk demonstrate that superior skill and footwork can overcome size disadvantages.
Tom Aspinall Eye Injury Details
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(01:35:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Tom Aspinall’s eye injury involved the finger going deeper into his left eye than his right, necessitating multiple surgeries scheduled into mid-January.
  • Summary: Critics doubting the severity of Tom Aspinall’s eye poke are informed that the injury was severe, with the finger penetrating deeply into his left eye. He is scheduled for another surgery in mid-January, confirming the need for multiple procedures. The speaker suggests that an immediate one or two-point deduction should occur every time a fighter is poked in the eye.
Defensive Striking and Eye Pokes
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(01:37:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Pyotr Yan employs a superior defensive stance with a closed fist, unlike Cyril Gane, who frequently fights with outstretched fingers, increasing the risk of eye pokes.
  • Summary: Pyotr Yan’s defensive posture involves keeping his leading hand in a fist, which effectively guards the chin and prevents eye pokes during engagement. Cyril Gane is noted for habitually fighting with fingers outstretched toward his opponent’s face. The segment proposes that designing MMA gloves to cover the fingertips like a mitten would eliminate most eye pokes without hindering striking.
Navigating Fame and Self-Worth
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(01:40:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Fighters must actively secure private time and base their self-worth internally, as relying on public perception makes them vulnerable to stumbles and criticism.
  • Summary: New athletes must bridge the gap between public popularity and personal reality by prioritizing private time to maintain their core mindset against the pressures of fame. Relying on external opinions for self-esteem is dangerous, as a single stumble, like an eye poke, can lead to negative self-perception. The influence of Hollywood and excessive outside commitments can detract from training and the necessary time for self-solidification.
John Jones’s Guidance and Wildness
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(01:45:05)
  • Key Takeaway: John Jones’s ‘wild’ nature, which contributed to his greatness, also led to stumbles, making him an invaluable mentor for navigating the pitfalls of elite success.
  • Summary: Gable Steveson views John Jones as a crucial guide because Jones has experienced both the peaks of being the GOAT and the valleys of public missteps. Jones’s willingness to offer advice on business and direction is seen as invaluable, especially since John lacked such mentorship early in his career. The ‘wildness’ required for elite performance often correlates with extracurricular partying and potential trouble, which a mentor like Jones can help a newcomer avoid.
Focus, Excellence, and Liabilities
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(01:48:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The primary focus must remain on achieving excellence, as fame and money are merely byproducts; any distraction robs focus from the pursuit of excellence.
  • Summary: Excellence is the driver of fame and money; shifting focus to the latter two causes athletes to lose their way. Attention should be treated as a finite resource (100 units of focus), and any energy spent on haters or toxic relationships steals directly from the pursuit of excellence. People in one’s life who actively steal focus or create problems are liabilities that must be cut out to protect one’s drive.
Gable Steveson’s Downtime and Dogs
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(01:53:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson unwinds by playing video games like Call of Duty and NBA 2K, and he has a deep, though often tragic, attachment to French Bulldogs due to their breed-related health issues.
  • Summary: Steveson’s current relaxation involves competitive gaming, where his real name is sometimes displayed, leading to recognition. He shared the heartbreak of losing two French Bulldogs to IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease), a common ailment in the breed due to poor breeding practices. The conversation briefly touches on the intense, unparalleled love one has for a human baby compared to dogs.
Drug Trade, Cartels, and Corruption
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(02:00:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The immense profitability of the drug trade, exemplified by cartels and historical events like the Gulf of Tonkin incident, drives high-level corruption and decision-making.
  • Summary: The existence of real conspiracy theories is validated by historical events like the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which was a false flag used to justify the Vietnam War for financial control, potentially including the heroin trade. The massive profits in the drug game tempt legitimate businessmen and lead to high-level corruption, as seen in the Cocaine Cowboys era where Miami banks laundered money. The recent sharp drop in overdose deaths is tentatively linked to increased efforts to interdict fentanyl-laced drugs being shipped via sea.
Gable’s UFC Timeline and Career Goals
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(02:13:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Gable Steveson is delaying his UFC signing until after his baby girl is born in January, planning to fight outside the UFC first to build experience before aiming to become a champion with more title defenses than Stipe Miocic.
  • Summary: Steveson is not yet signed with the UFC but has received offers; he is waiting until after his child’s birth in January to proceed. His ideal blueprint involves fighting in smaller organizations to gain experience, ensuring his ‘worst’ performance is already behind him before entering the UFC. His long-term goal is to become the UFC champion and attempt to surpass Stipe Miocic’s record of five successful title defenses.