Gable Steveson stops Ellison in first round of UFC debut

Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson finished Elisha Ellison via first-round TKO Saturday without recording a single takedown, per ESPN.

The highly-touted heavyweight prospect kept the fight standing and used his striking to earn the stoppage in his promotional debut. Steveson, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had been expected to lean heavily on his elite wrestling credentials but instead displayed unexpected comfort on the feet.

Steveson's striking over wrestling approach surprises

The Minnesota native controlled the opening round with strikes before the referee waved off the contest. UFC officials had not announced the exact finish time at press time.

Steveson now moves to 1-0 in MMA competition. His next opponent and fight date remain unconfirmed as the promotion evaluates the performance.

Reported via:

• ESPN MMA — Steveson debuts in style, finishes Ellison in first