New WWE Recruit Gable Steveson Hoped UFC 'Would Have Come A Lot Stronger' For Him

New WWE recruit Gable Steveson has suggested he would have liked UFC president Dana White to have made a greater effort to sign him.

Steveson was considered one of sport's hottest potential signings following his Olympic Gold Medal victory at the 2020 Tokyo Games this summer. The 21-year-old was linked with a career in football, MMA, and professional wrestling, before WWE announced his acquisition last week.

Despite being very happy with his choice in signing for WWE, Steveson had hoped UFC would want him as well.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Steveson said: "I was hoping that [UFC president Dana White] would have come a lot stronger. I was hoping that he would push the pace a little more.

"I would love to fight. I’m not scared of fighting. I’m not scared of getting punched. I’m not scared of going out there and losing in front of a big crowd or winning in front of a big crowd. It doesn’t matter to me.

"I go out there to entertain people and for me, myself, to do something I love. I mean I love fighting and I love WWE. I love both.

"I wish Dana came a little harder. I wish he would have had more push on me to go that way but that time is up for now. I’m 100 percent with Vince McMahon and that team. I’m excited to be where I’m at."

Steveson would also concede that WWE chairman Vince McMahon 'had the upper hand' over UFC in a head-to-head negotiation, so the odds of him choosing UFC over WWE were probably slim to begin with.