Elisha Ellison will face a monumental challenge at UFC 329 as a historic underdog. | 📷: Getty/UFC
Elisha Ellison isn’t intimidated by the hype behind Gable Steveson.
Steveson will make his highly anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against Ellison at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Olympian is a -2500 favorite on some sportsbooks going into his UFC debut. The underdog, however, sees this as an opportunity to make a name for himself.
Elisha Ellison reacts to Gable Steveson’s training with Jon Jones
Ellison believes the 2021 Tokyo Olympics wrestling gold medalist is still inexperienced for a promotion like the UFC. While he isn’t underestimating Steveson, he believes he can shock the MMA world with a massive upset at UFC 329.
“Anybody coming in, especially to a big promotion in the UFC, 3-0, you would be a fool not to call him green. It doesn’t mean I’m writing him off,” Ellison said at UFC 329 media day. “He obviously has a tremendous competition experience in the Olympics, collegiate wrestling… When I go out there and beat Gable Steveson, it will mean the world.”
If Steveson’s wrestling pedigree isn’t intimidating enough, he has also been training with Jon Jones in preparation. However, Ellison is unfazed as “Bones” won’t be fighting on behalf of Steveson. “Jon Jones isn’t in the Octagon. So, it doesn’t matter to me,” he added.
Ellison (5-2) has never seen the second round of a fight in his seven career outings. The former police officer is coming off a first-round knockout loss in his UFC debut last year. Meanwhile, Steveson (3-0) has finished all three of his fights in the first round.
