Gable Steveson did it again. Thursday night in Monterrey, Mexico, the Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight MMA prospect steamrolled Hugo Lezama at Mexico Fight League 3, ending the seasoned veteran at 3:50 of the primary round via TKO to maneuver to an ideal 3-0 skilled record. It was business as usual for Steveson — until it wasn’t, only for a moment.
One other dominant showing by Gable Steveson, he no less than needed to work slightly for this one. Hugo Lezama’s wheel kick was the one real adversity he faced. Steveson moves to 3-0. #MFL3 pic.twitter.com/5A3V1soqRF
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 20, 2026
Lezama, a 37-year-old journeyman with over 11 years of skilled experience and nine stoppage victories to his name, got here in as probably the most credentialed opponent Steveson has faced to this point. And for one fleeting second, he made Steveson feel it. A well-timed spinning wheel kick caught the heavyweight prospect flush, sending a jolt through the sector and raising eyebrows among the many MMA faithful who had been waiting for the primary sign of adversity in Steveson’s young profession. Steveson didn’t panic. He absorbed the shot, reset, and went right back to doing what he does best, wrestling his opponent to the canvas and unleashing devastating ground-and-pound until the referee had no selection but to step in.
What makes Steveson’s development so intriguing is the composure he showed after that wheel kick. He didn’t chase wildly or abandon his game plan. He remained disciplined, allowing Lezama to get back up at times, methodically dissecting him before turning up the pressure when the moment was right. That is not the response of a raw amateur attempting to survive. That is a fighter growing in real time.
Jon Jones watched all the performance from ringside, and his presence appears like a neon sign pointing directly toward Steveson’s next destination. Steveson himself has already made no secret of his ambitions, having spoken with UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard about an Octagon debut and publicly expressing his desire to compete on the highly anticipated White House card on June 14, the identical night the UFC stages its historic event on the South Lawn to have a good time President Trump’s eightieth birthday. Dana White has acknowledged Steveson is “on the radar, big time” for the promotion.
Are the celebrities aligning for Gable Steveson? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ehkAJbxh2W
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) February 20, 2026
With only 6-7 fights slotted for the White House card, every slot is precious real estate. But a card of that magnitude — built around spectacle and star power — needs a story. Gable Steveson, the Olympic wrestling champion turned undefeated MMA prospect, fighting on one among the largest stages in combat sports history alongside his mentor Jon Jones? That is not only a fight. That is must-see television. Dana White should make the decision now.