Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson needed only 15 seconds to prove his hands are as dangerous as his wrestling. Headlining DBX 4 at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Steveson iced veteran heavyweight Billy Swanson with a blistering right left combo, followed by a flurry capped by a savage uppercut that sent Swanson crashing to the canvas. Under the Dirty Boxing ruleset allowing up to five seconds of ground follow-ups Steveson landed two more shots before referee Dan Miragliotta waved it off.
“Mick, you’ve seen a little bit I’d love to show a lot more,” Steveson said from the ring, addressing UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, who was seated cageside. “Hopefully you believe in me, and I appreciate you.”
How it happened
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0:10–0:12 — Steveson steps in with a clean right hand, chases with a left that staggers Swanson.
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0:13–0:15 — Uppercut detonates; Swanson falls. Quick ground follow-ups force the stoppage.
Why it matters
This was Steveson’s first outing in a striking-centric environment. No takedowns permitted and it arrives just weeks after his successful pro MMA debut at LFA 217. Where he stopped Braden Peterson in 1:38 with a takedown and brutal ground-and-pound. Saturday’s flash finish showcases a rapidly diversifying skill set for the heavyweight prospect who trains alongside former UFC champion Jon Jones.
With UFC brass in the building and a viral-ready knockout on his reel, Steveson’s trajectory is pointing sharply upward whether that means another Dirty Boxing showcase, a swift LFA return, or accelerated talks with the UFC. Either way, the message was loud, brief, and emphatic: the hands are real.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
