MMA
Gable Steveson signs a contract with the UFC, debuts at UFC 329 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson signs a contract with the UFC, debuts at UFC 329
Published
4 months agoon
(Photo by Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS — Gable Steveson is officially headed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Olympic gold medalist’s long-awaited transfer was announced during the UFC 327 broadcast, during which Steveson appeared alongside his coach and mentor, former two-division champion Jon Jones.
The UFC also confirmed that Steveson’s debut is already scheduled for UFC 329 on July 11, making this fight one of the most talked about upcoming fights.
Gable Steveson’s UFC debut is already scheduled
Steveson, widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers to transition to MMA, will make his promotional debut UFC 329.
Although his opponent has not been officially announced yet, we can already expect who will welcome the Olympic champion to the octagon.
Betting odds reveal likely opponents
Bookmaker’s bets in BetOnline.ag have released preliminary odds for Steveson’s potential opponent – and there are some notable heavyweights in the mix.
Most popular bets:
- Marcin Tybura — +200
- Sergei Spivak – +600
- Tides – +650
- Mick Parkin – +700
- Steven Peterson – +700
Other names mentioned:
- Tallison Teixeira – +900
- Derrick Lewis – +1000
- Jhonata Diniz – +1200
- Johnny Walker – +1400
- Shamil Gaziev – +1400
- Josh Hokit – +2000
Current odds suggest Tybura is the favorite, but the wide field shows the UFC has plenty of options for Steveson’s debut.
The Jon Jones connection adds intrigue
Steveson’s appearance alongside Jon Jones during the announcement adds another layer of intrigue.
Jones, one of the best fighters in UFC history, played a key role in mentoring Steveson as he prepared to transition from wrestling to MMA.
A modern heavyweight contender appears
With elite wrestling credentials and world-class athletics, Steveson enters the UFC as one of the most sought-after heavyweight prospects in years.
His debut at UFC 329 could mark the beginning of a rapid rise in the division – especially if he faces an established fighter.
You can check the odds for your next UFC opponent here: https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/mma-futures/next-opponent.
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MMA
Anthony Smith pleads not guilty to four felony charges in Nebraska
Published
8 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Smith has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges stemming
from a July domestic incident in Nebraska.
Court records confirmed
Smith’s plea, resulting in the cancellation of an arraignment
scheduled for Aug. 17. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title
challenger is now due back in court for a status hearing Sept. 21
in Sarpy County.
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith faces four felony
charges stemming from an alleged July domestic incident in Gretna,
Nebraska
Smith faces one Class 2 felony count involving an attempted Class 1
offense, a terroristic-threats charge and two counts of
first-degree false imprisonment, all classified as Class 3A
felonies. A Class 2 felony in Nebraska can carry a prison term of
one to 50 years, while Class 3A felonies carry up to three years of
imprisonment and 18 months of post-release supervision.
Prosecutors allege that Smith became involved in an altercation
with his wife at a Gretna, Nebraska, bar on July 26. They claim
Smith threatened to kill his wife, forced her into his vehicle and
later attempted to strike her with the vehicle after she exited it.
His wife was not physically injured, according to prosecutors’
account.
Smith has not publicly addressed the allegations. His wife, Mikhala
Renee Newman, previously offered a different characterization of
the incident, saying Smith was experiencing a mental health crisis
and that she had sought help to protect him from himself.
MMA
Sean Strickland trades heated DMs with Tyron Woodley over Din Thomas cornering controversy
Published
8 hours agoon
August 18, 2026
Credit: Michelle Farsi/Chris Unger/Matt Winkelmeyer/Zuffa LLCUFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and former titleholder Tyron Woodley engaged in a war of words over Din Thomas.
UFC analyst and former fighter Din Thomas is under intense criticism after ‘retiring' as a cornerman following Gillian Robertson's loss at UFC 330. Robertson lost to UFC women's strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern by unanimous decision with Thomas, her longtime mentor and coach, in her corner.
After massive backlash, Thomas apologized for his ‘retirement' during the most recent episode of Deep Waters alongside Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal. Robertson, in her first post-fight comments after UFC 330, appeared to question the sincerity of Thomas' apology.
Enter Sean Strickland, who went on an X-rated social media rant against Thomas as the controversy built steam over the weekend. Strickland defended Robertson's performance and blasted Thomas' critical remarks in the immediate aftermath of the fight.
After Strickland's remarks went viral, one of Thomas' closest confidants, former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, defended the coach against Strickland's attacks.
Sean Strickland, Tyron Woodley trade threats over Din Thomas controversy
As Strickland leaked on Instagram, Woodley gave him a stern warning after the middleweight champ's recent remarks about Thomas following UFC 330.
“Watch your mouth talking about Din,†Woodley messaged Strickland.
“You have no clue WTF you talking about, we laugh all the time when you have no filter, but you a habitual line-crosser. I'm ride or die about him. Don't cross that line.â€
Tyron Woodley confronted Sean Strickland in his DMs for talking bad about Din Thomas
Sean Strickland sent him back a screenshot of his 7-fight losing skid 😬
ðŸ—£ï¸ Woodley: “Watch your mouth talking about Din. You have no clue wtf you talking about.â€
ðŸ—£ï¸ Strickland: “Bro what are… pic.twitter.com/MjP2elpaR2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 18, 2026
Three hours later, Strickland hit back at Woodley.
“Bro, what are you gonna do? You ain't gonna do a damn thing lmao,†Strickland responded to Woodley.
“Din can suck my c—. Weak a– b—-.â€
What are your thoughts on the Din Thomas cornering controversy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
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