Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson is set to make his long-anticipated UFC debut against Elisha Ellison on the UFC 329 preliminary card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Steveson, 26, enters the Octagon with a 3-0 professional MMA record, with all three victories coming by first-round knockout. He turned pro in MMA last year after a stint in WWE, an NFL attempt, and finishing college at the University of Minnesota.
Head coach Greg Jackson, who leads Steveson at Jackson-Wink MMA, urged fans to pay attention to the heavyweight newcomer. "I think, if you're a fan, you're gonna need to tune in to see what can this guy do," Jackson said, later adding, "I've worked with most of the greatest fighters to ever do this game, and his athletic ability is unprecedented."
Jackson also highlighted Steveson’s pedigree from the Tokyo Games, saying, "He already won the Olympic gold medal at heavyweight in wrestling. That is so hard to do, I can't even tell you. Where is the ceiling? What can he accomplish? What can he do?"
Steveson believes his style will bring something different to the division. "I think what people could be excited about for my UFC debut is someone that's new with new power, a new face, new speed, new techniques in the heavyweight division," he said. "This is probably not the usual heavyweight that you may see, the big and strong ones. This is the new and improved fast and quick ones that are gonna change the game, and it's gonna start with me."
