Olympic gold medallist and undefeated MMA super prospect Gable Steveson is set to make his UFC debut this weekend.
At a time when the heavyweight division is crying out for new blood, Steveson is poised to make an immediate impact when he takes on Elisha Ellison [5-2 MMA; 0-1 UFC] in a featured bout on Saturday night.
Named after amateur wrestling great Dan Gable, Steveson was always destined for success on the mats and he lived up to his promise by winning back-to-back NCAA Division 1 Championships in the heavyweight division.
From there he became the first American heavyweight in more than two decades to become an Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling, and after brief forays into professional wrestling and a fledgling American football career, Steveson has embarked on a transition into mixed martial arts in earnest.
It has been less than 12 months since Steveson stepped in the cage for the first time, making his professional debut on an LFA card against Braden Peterson in September.
Against his overmatched opponent Steveson showcased frightening speed for a heavyweight, quickly taking Peterson down before landing a barrage of punches that forced the referee to intervene after just 98 seconds.
As Steveson celebrated his debut win he was joined in the cage by two-weight UFC world champion and one of the consensus greatest fighters of all time, Jon Jones.
Jones last fought in November 2024, defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic.
For that fight he brought in Steveson to serve as one of his main training partners, and the pair subsequently developed a friendship, with Jones serving as both the prospect's head coach and mentor.
Will Jon Jones be in Gable Steveson's corner at UFC 329?
Since Steveson made his MMA debut Jones has been ever-present in his corner, watching on as the 26-year-old has recorded three straight wins in a combined five minutes and 52 seconds.
Speaking after Stevenson earned his second professional victory in November, Jones insisted that his protege is the future of the sport.
"Mark my words, Gable will be the most elite heavyweight fighter on the planet within the next 12 months," Jones wrote on his Instagram story.
As such it is expected that Jones will be in Steveson's corner when he makes his UFC debut on the preliminary card of UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
He will likely be joined by decorated MMA coach Greg Jackson, the main who has served as Jones' main trainer throughout his legendary career.
