Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has officially signed with the UFC and is slated to make his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 329. The event is scheduled to take place during International Fight Week in July 2026 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Steveson, who has been training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has an impressive 3-0 record in professional MMA. All of his victories have come by first-round knockout, most recently in February 2026 against Hugo Lezama under the MFL banner. The 25-year-old’s entry into the UFC is highly anticipated, especially given the resurgence of the heavyweight division, which recently featured a highly acclaimed fight between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes.
UFC President Dana White confirmed Steveson’s signing during the UFC 327 broadcast. However, an opponent for Steveson’s debut has not yet been announced. White acknowledged that Steveson, like many newcomers, may experience “UFC jitters” and that the promotion is still determining his first opponent. The heavyweight division is also seeing other significant developments, including Alex Pereira’s potential move up in weight.
Both Steveson and Jon Jones were present at UFC 327 when the news of the signing was officially revealed.
English Translation:
Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has officially signed with the UFC and is slated to make his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 329. The event is scheduled to take place during International Fight Week in July 2026 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Steveson, who has been training with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, boasts an impressive 3-0 professional MMA record, with all victories coming by first-round knockout. His most recent outing was in February 2026 under the MFL banner, where he defeated Hugo Lezama. The 25-year-old’s entry into the UFC is highly anticipated, particularly as the heavyweight division experiences a renaissance, recently highlighted by a highly acclaimed bout between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes.
During the UFC 327 broadcast, UFC President Dana White confirmed Steveson’s signing. However, an opponent for Steveson’s debut has not yet been named. White noted that Steveson, like many new fighters, might experience “UFC jitters” and that the promotion is still deciding on his first opponent. The heavyweight division is also seeing other significant shifts, including Alex Pereira’s potential move up in weight.
Both Steveson and Jon Jones were in attendance at UFC 327 when the official announcement of the signing was made.
