Dana White says Gable Steveson will not be rushed into the top tier of the UFC heavyweight division, confirming the 25-year-old will face a similarly experienced opponent for his Octagon debut.
Speaking at a UFC press conference in Winnipeg, White made it clear the promotion intends to be deliberate with matchmaking for the 3-0 MMA prospect, who also holds a 1-0 record in dirty boxing.
“CM Punk fought here, we’ll find somebody,” White said while discussing the search for Steveson’s first UFC opponent.
White emphasized that Steveson is unlikely to be paired with a ranked heavyweight right away, despite the division featuring names like No. 13 Tallison Teixeira and No. 15 Shamil Gaziev.
“I don’t know if we go after a Top 15 guy. The UFC jitters are real. I don’t care how you’ve competed or where or what you’ve done. When you come here, it’s a different level. Our matchmakers are the best in the business. We’ll figure him out and get him the right fight. When I say that, I mean at what we think his level is, and what we think he’s capable of.”
