Podcast Summary: The Joe Rogan Experience – MMA Show #172 with Gable Steveson
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Joe Rogan
Guest: Gable Steveson – Olympic gold medalist, elite wrestler, and rising MMA heavyweight
Episode Focus: Gable’s athletic journey, wrestling’s role in MMA, mental toughness, the realities of fame, and building the next dominant heavyweight.
Episode Overview
This episode welcomes Olympic wrestling champion and budding MMA superstar Gable Steveson. Rogan and Gable dive deep into Gable’s unique sports journey—from his wrestling roots and brief NFL stint, to WWE and now MMA. The conversation explores what makes wrestlers successful in the cage, Gable’s mindset, transitioning skillsets, the current heavyweight landscape, and lessons from Jon Jones. The tone is candid, motivational, and rich with fun anecdotes about fighting, fame, and life outside the cage.
Main Discussion Themes
- Athletic Identity and Origins
- Wrestling as a Foundation for MMA
- Transitioning Between Elite Sports
- Learning from Jon Jones
- Building Stardom and Navigating Fame
- Heavyweight Division Analysis & Gable’s Future
- Excellence, Mindset, and Life Lessons
- Combat Sports Culture, Conspiracies, and Dog Chat
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gable’s Name, Origin, and Destiny (00:15–01:04)
- Gable describes being named after legendary wrestler Dan Gable.
“My mom…was at a tournament in Iowa…she kept hearing, Gable, Gable, Gable. And it was Dan Gable at the time. …she was like, why don't I name you Gable Dan? And the rest was history…” – Gable Steveson (00:26)
- Joe and Gable reflect on the legacy and importance of wrestling in the Midwest.
2. The State of Wrestling & Professional Pathways (01:04–03:13)
- Both discuss the lack of pro wrestling outlets compared to global sports.
- New ventures like “Raf” (American Freestyle) and the challenge of star-building.
- Comparison to other countries’ focus on a few sports and the difference in U.S. athletic celebrity culture.
3. Wrestling’s Excitement and Accessibility (03:13–04:31)
- Joe praises wrestling’s universality and excitement:
“Wrestling itself is such an exciting sport...everybody understands it. It’s not complicated.” – Joe Rogan (03:13)
- Gable encourages adults and kids to be adaptable and eager:
“Man, just be hungry because someone's gonna respect you.” – Gable Steveson (23:51)
4. Elite Athleticism: Flexibility, Toughness, and Aging (04:31–06:56)
- Conversation about flexibility in athletes, referencing Yoel Romero’s freakish athletic longevity.
- Joe spotlights what it takes to be an Olympic-level wrestler or a top MMA contender.
“Nobody gets there easy...you gotta have everything.” – Joe Rogan (06:55)
5. Wrestling as an MMA Base & Mental Fortitude (06:56–08:19)
- Both agree wrestling is MMA’s best base, noting mental toughness and conditioning.
- Gable explains the transition from D1 wrestling to MMA wrestling:
“...guys that are dominating and winning are kind of putting that wrestling base first, but making it MMA wrestling...” – Gable Steveson (07:22)
6. Gable’s Striking Background & Coachability (09:44–11:47)
- Gable started striking seriously only seven months ago; attributes progress to his “all ears” mentality.
“You can’t go out there and think you can do something without putting that time and effort in…” – Gable Steveson (10:47)
- Joe underscores the necessity of being coachable for elite athletes.
“You have to be coachable. The guys who like, ‘I'm gonna do it my way’…they never get elite.” – Joe Rogan (11:15)
7. NFL & WWE Experiences: Athletic Adaptability (11:47–17:48)
- Gable recounts his complete lack of football background before trying out PRO-level for the Bills.
“First time you played football was professional?” – Joe Rogan (12:09, in disbelief)
- Transitioned to wrestling, briefly to WWE, but realized a deep “competitive drive” was missing there.
- Choice to prioritize “real competition” over showmanship at this stage.
8. Genesis of MMA Ambition & Jon Jones Mentorship (18:02–24:47)
- Gable shares how training with Jon Jones inspired him to seriously pursue MMA:
“When I saw Jon, I saw that drive…damn, you know, this guy's winning. People get close but can’t get past him. And…that’s what flipped my switch right there.” – Gable Steveson (19:50)
- Jones’s processes: attention to detail, game-planning, and personal mentorship.
9. Lessons from Training Camp with Jon Jones (27:01–28:49)
- Joe and Gable discuss how Jones’s “fight IQ” and meticulous game-planning set him apart.
- Gable highlights his own shift from ignoring tape in wrestling to embracing video study in MMA on Jon’s urging.
10. Heavyweight Division, MMA Heavy Hitters & Gable’s Potential (28:49–34:47)
- Joe predicts a “revolution” at heavyweight, singling out Gable’s combination of speed and wrestling,
“That kind of speed…incorporated with elite wrestling is crazy…” – Joe Rogan (28:50)
- Both analyze the changing landscape: Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Cyril Gane, Francis Ngannou, Alex Pereira.
11. Excellence, Mentality, and Skill Development (36:19–42:38)
- Joe and Gable bond over love for “excellence and evolution” in fighters.
- They discuss the importance of continually adding new skills, referencing Jones’s and Vitor Belfort’s improvements late in their careers.
12. Training Routines & Developmental Approach (61:13–63:01)
- Gable’s current training is all-encompassing, mixing all styles (boxing, kicks, wrestling) multiple rounds daily.
- Joe contrasts with other fighters’ discipline-specific focus in off-camp training.
13. Fame, Focus, and Personal Boundaries in the Spotlight (101:14–109:03)
- Joe warns about the complexities of fame, the risks of losing oneself, and the importance of private time:
“Fame itself is very complicated…especially for fighters. When your entire identity relies on the way other people perceive you, that's not good.” – Joe Rogan (101:51)
- Urges Gable to focus on “excellence, not money or fame,” and protect his focus and mental bandwidth.
- Jon Jones’s past is discussed as a model for surviving and learning from fame’s pitfalls.
14. Life Lessons: Protecting Focus, Avoiding Liabilities (109:03–112:27)
- Joe tells a cautionary tale:
“…anybody that's trying to steal from that [focus], like, those are liabilities. …you got a hole in the bottom of your boat. You gotta patch that shit up.” – Joe Rogan (112:21)
- Gable reflects on Jones guiding him as “the replacement.” Both stress learning from mentors’ mistakes and wisdom.
15. Fun Tangents: Fear Factor, Dogs, and Conspiracies (43:00+)
- Gable and Joe share laughs about Fear Factor gross-out moments, bull riding dangers, and their shared love of French bulldogs.
- The episode includes a quick foray into conspiracy theories, the drug war, and social responsibility in fame.
16. Gable’s UFC Timeline and Career Blueprint (134:06–136:54)
- Gable has not signed with the UFC yet; is fielding offers but prioritizes family and development. He prefers to debut at the UFC's White House card, seeking one or two more fights first.
- Outlines his goal to win and defend the UFC heavyweight belt and build the Stevenson legacy:
“…I would like to try to beat [Stipe’s] record if I can, and if I can’t, die trying…But I’m obsessed with being the best version of Gable because if I’m the best version…you’re not gonna be able to beat me.” – Gable Steveson (136:54)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Mindset and Growth
- “That’s the worst I’ll ever be. [...] That dirty boxing is probably the weakest I'll ever be in the sport of MMA.” – Gable Steveson (60:33)
- “Protect your focus. It’s precious. Protect your time, protect that energy that you have to invest in things. It’s so precious.” – Joe Rogan (109:03)
On Excellence
- “Excellence is what brings you the money. Excellence is what brings you the fame. And the moment you start thinking about the fame and the money and not thinking about the excellence, you've lost your way.” – Joe Rogan (109:03)
Heavyweight Predictions
- “When you have that and you're 25 years old…it’s a very rare thing that you see in MMA…You’re already there, which is nuts.” – Joe Rogan on Gable’s potential (29:03)
- “I really think I can go out there and do right by this big promotion and go out there and just be fantastic.” – Gable Steveson (93:23)
On the Power & Pitfalls of Fame
- “When Hollywood gets involved…that kind of, in a lot of ways, led to the decline of Ronda Rousey.” – Joe Rogan (101:51)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:15–01:04: Gable’s origin story & wrestling’s legacy
- 07:22–08:19: Wrestling as MMA’s foundation & its adaptation
- 09:44–11:47: Striking development & importance of teachability
- 18:02–24:47: Genesis of Gable’s MMA ambition; Jon Jones’s mentorship
- 28:49–34:47: Heavyweight division analysis & Gable’s upside
- 61:13–64:00: Gable’s training methodology
- 101:14–109:03: Navigating fame, focus, and stardom
- 134:06–137:59: UFC plans, blueprint for championship, and legacy
Tone & Style
The conversation is raw, engaging, and at times humorous. Both Gable and Joe blend candor, humility, and competitive fire, offering behind-the-scenes insights into what drives greatness both in and out of the octagon.
Conclusion
Gable Steveson’s episode on JRE MMA Show #172 serves as both a revealing personal narrative and a manual for aspiring athletes. It’s a must-listen for anyone curious about what it takes to leap from elite wrestling to MMA superstardom, the psychology behind champions, and the looming arrival of a new force in the UFC heavyweight division.