Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is making historical past earlier than he ever steps contained in the Octagon.
Simply days earlier than his extremely anticipated UFC debut at UFC 329, sportsbooks have put in the adorned heavyweight wrestler as the largest betting favourite in UFC historical past. Steveson has surged to as excessive as -4000 at some sportsbooks, eclipsing earlier record-setting betting strains within the promotion and underscoring the big expectations surrounding his arrival in combined martial arts.
Steveson is scheduled to face Elisha Ellison on the preliminary card of UFC 329 in Las Vegas, the place the previous Olympic champion will make his long-awaited promotional debut. Early betting strains opened with Steveson as a heavy favourite earlier than shortly ballooning all through struggle week as cash poured in on the undefeated prospect. DraftKings has listed him round -2800, whereas different sportsbooks have pushed the road to roughly -4000.
The unprecedented odds replicate Steveson’s credentials as one of the crucial completed wrestlers to transition into MMA. The 2020 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist has compiled a 3-0 skilled MMA report, ending all three opponents by first-round knockout or TKO previous to signing with the UFC.
The betting market additionally highlights the perceived hole between Steveson and Ellison. Whereas Ellison enters with UFC expertise, oddsmakers have considered the matchup as one closely favoring the promotional newcomer due to his elite wrestling pedigree, athleticism, and dominant performances on the regional circuit.
The historic betting line has sparked debate all through the MMA group. Whereas many analysts consider Steveson possesses championship potential due to his world-class wrestling and bodily instruments, others warning that MMA stays an unpredictable sport the place even overwhelming favorites have been upset.
Whatever the end result, Steveson will enter UFC 329 carrying unprecedented expectations. No fighter in UFC historical past has entered the Octagon with sportsbooks expressing extra confidence in victory than the heavyweight newcomer.
With UFC 329 that includes the return of Conor McGregor in opposition to Max Holloway in the primary occasion, Steveson’s debut has emerged as one of many card’s greatest storylines. A dominant efficiency would validate the hype surrounding one of many UFC’s most anticipated signings lately, whereas an upset would immediately change into one of many greatest betting shocks in promotional historical past.
