Gable Steveson Becomes Biggest Betting Favorite in UFC History

Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has become the biggest betting favorite in UFC history ahead of his Octagon debut Saturday at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.

Steveson opened at -2800 on DraftKings for his heavyweight bout against Elisha Ellison, per MMA Mania. The line ballooned to -4000 on FanDuel, surpassing the previous record held by Bo Nickal and Malcolm Wellmaker, who each closed at -2500 in separate fights last year.

Why the historic spread makes sense for Steveson's UFC debut

The lopsided odds reflect both Steveson's credentials and his opponent's standing. Ellison sits at No. 38 out of 40 UFC heavyweights on Tapology, making this a clear showcase spot for the two-time NCAA Division I champion. Steveson has stopped all three professional MMA opponents in the opening round, including a 24-second knockout of Kevin Hein and a two-minute finish of Braden Peterson, both in 2025.

The 25-year-old scored another first-round stoppage over Hugo Lezama in Mexico earlier this year. Despite the hype, a -4000 line represents nearly unprecedented confidence for any UFC matchup, especially a debut.

UFC 329 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena with Steveson expected to headline the prelims on Paramount Plus.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Biggest betting favorite in UFC history? Prized Octagon newcomer, Gable Stevenson, just broke the record