Gable Steveson is heading into his first MMA bout of the year at a new low weight.
After making a strong impression on the scene last year, the Olympic gold medallist is set to return this Thursday for his first appearance of 2026.
The 25-year-old will be facing off against Hugo Lezama, an 11-3 fighter from Mexico who presents Steveson’s toughest test so far.
Lezama, who spent most of his early career at light heavyweight, moved up to heavyweight in 2023 and captured a regional title in Mexico shortly after the switch.
Gable Steveson weighs in at 249lbs before return to MMA
Last year, Steveson stepped into the cage twice, first with LFA and then under former UFC star Anthony Pettis’ banner.
And it was not just his wrestling that got people talking. Fans were equally impressed by his striking, which looked sharp right from the start.
His debut ended in a knockout in less than a minute and 40 seconds, while his second fight wrapped up even quicker – under 25 seconds.
In between those two appearances, he also competed for Jon Jones’ promotion, Dirty Boxing, delivering another knockout inside 20 seconds.
Ahead of Thursday’s event in Monterrey, Mexico, Steveson weighed in at 249 pounds – the lightest he has ever been for a fight.
Lezama came in at 238 pounds, giving up 11 pounds to the American at the weigh-in.
Steveson’s previous MMA weights were around 259 pounds for both fights, and he wrestled at about 264 pounds during his amateur days.
Gable Steveson says he will ask for UFC White House fight if he wins by knockout
Steveson has said that if he gets a knockout in Mexico, he will push to be added to the UFC’s White House card this June.
The UFC’s heavyweight division has not been in the best shape for a while now. Many fans have even reached out to Dana White directly, urging him to bring in Steveson as a way to help turn things around.
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