Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev both secured gold medals in 2025 by effectively using ground techniques. Last year saw several UFC titles change hands, notably in the middleweight and welterweight divisions. Chimaev dominated Drycas du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago, maintaining control for over 21 minutes to win the South African’s 185-pound title. A few months later, Makhachev claimed the 170-pound championship at UFC 322 in New York City by outscoring Jacques Della Maddalena with 19 minutes of control.
While both fighters successfully neutralized their opponents’ attacks, Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Stevenson feels American wrestlers haven’t mastered this approach yet. At 25, Stevenson—early in his professional MMA career—highlighted on the Joe Rogan Experience his ambition to rise quickly in the UFC heavyweight division by adapting his wrestling style to MMA similarly to Makhachev and Chimaev. He emphasized that the most dominant UFC fighters are those who build on a wrestling base and integrate MMA-specific techniques, a step many D1 wrestlers fail to take. Stevenson praised fighters like Chimaev for actively attacking and making opponents respect their threats in the cage.
Recently, Stevenson showcased his striking ability, winning his MMA debut in just 98 seconds and following up with rapid knockout victories, one of which caught the attention of UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. Many expect Stevenson to join the UFC roster soon, with plans to debut at the UFC event in Washington, D.C., on June 14th after a few more local fights.
Fan Take: This update is significant for fight fans as it highlights the evolution of wrestling within MMA, showing that success requires not just traditional wrestling skills but mastering MMA-specific tactics. Gable Stevenson’s rising star and potential UFC debut could bring fresh excitement and a new dominant wrestling force to the heavyweight division.
