Overview
- Steveson is scheduled to make his UFC debut on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on the preliminary card against Elisha Ellison.
- The 26-year-old Olympic heavyweight wrestling gold medalist enters the Octagon with a 3-0 pro MMA record and three first-round finishes.
- Coach Greg Jackson and mentor Jon Jones have publicly praised Steveson’s athleticism and ceiling, calling him unusually gifted and worth watching closely.
- Some rivals and observers have urged caution, noting Jackson’s promotional tone and pointing out that Ellison has more pro fights and that early hype does not guarantee long-term UFC success.
- Oddsmakers have made Steveson an extreme favorite and the UFC has placed him in a measured matchup, which gives him exposure while letting him gain experience before facing top-ranked heavyweights.