UFC Champ Watches Gophers Wrestling Pummel Purdue; Steveson: MMA ‘Definitely’ in Future; NFL Hopes, Too

The Minnesota Gophers wrestling team nearly blanked the No. 28 Boilermakers at Maturi Pavilion, Sunday. Gophers wrestlers won eight of 10 matches to run away from Purdue, 35-6, with five of those eight wins coming by technical fall.

Gophers wrestling nearly blanks Boilermakers

Andrew Sparks (#11 at 165 pounds) took down Stoney Buell and scored four nearfall points in the first period and steamrolled Stoney 20-4, scoring three more takedowns in the third period. He’s won five straight matches.

The most competitive match of the day was between 174-pounders Clayton Whiting (#22) and Purdue’s Brody Baumann (#27). The match went into sudden death overtime. Whiting defended an attack by Baumann and then drove down his opponent to earn the victory.

Waconia’s Max McEnelly remained undefeated on the season, starting fast against Orando Cruz with three takedowns in the first period. It was 16-3 after two when McEnelly allowed an escape to score another takedown and the technical fall victory, 20-4 with 1:11 left in regulation.

UFC Heavyweight Champ Jon “Bones” Jones gets quite a show

The Gophers wrestling team put on quite the show for the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, Jon “Bones” Jones, who was in attendance to watch Gable Steveson, an attendee of Jones’ recent fight camp. Steveson finished Hayden Filipovich in the first period, scoring four takedowns and two nearfalls.

With Jon “Bones” Jones in attendance, Gable Steveson makes quick work of #purdue’s Hayden Filipovich. 18-3 #gophers #wrestling. pic.twitter.com/L112ngmVQ4

— Anthony Varriano (@GoGonzoJournal) February 9, 2025

When asked if MMA was in his future, Gable Steveson said “definitely,” but what might be more surprising is Steveson’s interest in playing in the NFL’s biggest game.

“Super Bowl’s a big game. I wish one day I could be in it. That would be really nice, and if I’m not, then I live to dream of being an NFL player,” Steveson said. “But I think there’s more for me.”

The “more” to which he’s referring is his tryout with the Buffalo Bills that earned him a three-year, rookie contract to play defensive line. Steveson said he’s grateful for the Bills giving him that opportunity despite the fact he’d never played football in his life.

Steveson was also grateful for Jones’ presence at the Purdue duel. “With Jon in attendance, just the magnitude that he brings to the MMA game and the wrestling world and to this program, too, just to have him show up…he showed up and showed out for the team, and we’re grateful for that.”

Tommy Askey finishes strong for Gophers wrestling team

The final match of the duel might have gotten the biggest reaction out of Jones. Eighth-ranked 157-pounder Tommy Askey scored a violent takedown and four-point nearfall to earn his first technical fall of the season over Wyatt Krejsa.

The #gophers Tommy Askey gets the attention of @ufc heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones with this takedown of #Purdue's Wyatt Krejsa… pic.twitter.com/I8QRYgBqBK

— Anthony Varriano (@GoGonzoJournal) February 9, 2025

“Everybody looks over after they win to see if Jon notices them, so it’s really nice,” Steveson said. Jones certainly noticed Askey and appeared to enjoy himself throughout. He hung out with the team in their weight/recovery room afterward, talking wrestling and taking photos with Gophers wrestlers.

The Gophers wrestling team has its biggest duel of the season on Valentine’s Day, as third-ranked Iowa visits the Maturi Pavilion, Friday at 8 p.m.