clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

‘Upset of the century’: Pros react to Wyatt Hendrickson’s shocking win over Gable Steveson for NCAA title

2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship Photo by Isaac Wasserman/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Bryan Tucker is the managing editor-in-chief of MMA Fighting and the executive director of combat sports at SB Nation. He has led MMA Fighting since 2009.

Wyatt Hendrickson allegedly had no chance against Gable Steveson, but some last-second magic changed that narrative Saturday night.

At the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, Hendrickson got a late takedown to secure the 5-4 win over Olympic gold medalist Steveson in the 285-pound division final.

“Today, I took the gold medal, I’m No. 1,” Hendrickson said. “I was telling myself I know I can do this. God gifted me. All week I’ve been looking at David and Goliath and no one thought David could take down Goliath but I did.”

Steveson could be headed to mixed martial arts down the road, but he has the 2028 Olympics on tap with his collegiate career now over.

See how the pros reacted to the big win below:

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the MMA Fighting Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of all your fighting news from MMA Fighting