Elisha Ellison is set to face Steveson at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, and the 5-2 prospect is bringing more than just a fight to the Octagon.
Ellison, who owns a 0-1 mark in the UFC after being knocked out by Brandon Pericic in his debut in September, will meet the 3-0 Steveson, who is making his first walk to the UFC cage.
A former military serviceman and police officer in Washington state, Ellison spoke candidly about the toll his previous careers took on him. "I used to be a police officer and first responders, we see a lot," he said. "We go through a lot. I was dealing a lot from the military. I didn't take care of it mentally. It bled over into my law enforcement life. I ended up getting put on admin leave. I was going to shoot myself. Thankfully, I had a buddy of mine call me literally at the last second. He and Jesus Christ saved my life."
Ellison began competing in MMA in December 2022 and credits martial arts as a key outlet. "I'm talking to the men out there. We deal with a lot, and we don't talk about it. Go get help. Go talk to somebody. Ultimately, martial arts has been a good outlet for me, therapeutic-wise. Therapy, man. Don't be afraid to go talk to a therapist. Go tell them how you're feeling and go get whatever you're dealing with off your chest."
Looking ahead to UFC 329, Ellison is clear on one thing: "Fans are going to say what they're going to say. They see Saturday night. I think people forget that the UFC is the best fighters in the world. We're taking the best in the world and placing up against the best in the world. Writing off any UFC fighter is ridiculous."
