Gable Steveson Reportedly In Talks With Bellator MMA

It looks like Bellator is decent competition for UFC.

Since AJ McKee defeated Patricio Freire at Bellator 263 in July, McKee has been labeled one of the stars of Bellator. Former UFC fighter Steven Ray also decided to sign with Bellator, and not with the UFC.

And now Gable Steveson, a 21-year-old Olympic gold medalist wrestler, is reportedly in talks with Bellator promotion.

Steveson became famous after defeating titular Georgian wrestler Geno Petriashvili in a last-second victory, stunning many in the sports world. Steveson was trailing in the beginning of the super heavyweight gold medal match, but he managed to earn two points in the ticking seconds of the final.

Last week, Steveson teased a possible move to the UFC after directing a tweet to UFC President Dana White. White has yet to respond to the message.

Meanwhile, CEO of Bellator MMA Scott Coker told MMA Junkie that the promotion is in talks with Steveson’s management.

“I can tell you this, that we’ve already been in touch with his management,” Coker said. “I do know that he has a couple years left of school and wants to go back and wrestle. There’s dialogue going on, but he really wants to wrestle right now.

“If he wants to come to MMA, we’ve love to have him here. Nobody builds athletes from wrestling or ground up like we do. I think we’re the best at it. I think we’d be a great home for him,” he added.