​You only get one UFC debut. Two rookies stepped into the Octagon last night (Sat., July 11, 2026) at UFC 329 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Collectively, the newcomers went 1-1, with one of them delivering a brutal knockout to begin his UFC journey in dramatic fashion. Now that the dust has settled, here are their performances graded.
At long last, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I Heavyweight champion Gable Steveson finally made his highly anticipated UFC debut. And it was nothing short of chaotic. From the opening bell, Steveson came out throwing heavy hooks and power punches, clearly intent on making a violent first impression. A low blow briefly paused the action, but once it resumed, the Olympian began mixing in body kicks that seemed to hurt Elisha Ellison. He then pressed Ellison against the fence, unleashing a torrent of punches, knees, and relentless pressure until Ellison hit the canvas from a first-round knockout that was as dramatic as it was unexpected. It was wild, it was sloppy, and it was exactly the kind of UFC debut Steveson needed.
No, it was not technically pristine, and no, we didn’t see much of the elite wrestling that made him famous. In fact, Steveson relied almost entirely on striking, which raises questions about how quickly he’ll return to his wrestling roots. Still, the hype surrounding him is only going to grow louder after this performance. Steveson may very well be able to compete with several Heavyweights in the Top 15 already, but there’s no need to rush him. For his second UFC outing, a fight against a dangerous, experienced, and flawed opponent just outside the rankings would be ideal. My pick: Steveson vs. Ryan Spann.
Meanwhile, John Garza, a Fury FC veteran, stepped up on one week’s notice to take on undefeated Farid Basharat on the UFC 329 prelims. That is a brutal debut assignment. Basharat began with relentless leg kicks, chopping away at Garza’s legs while Garza answered back with quick, crisp boxing. Basharat then secured a takedown and took Garza’s back, but Garza managed to reverse and stood back up. Undeterred, Basharat kept the pressure on, again taking Garza down and, after returning to the feet, started to showcase his striking variety with spinning backfists, head kicks, and straight rights to close the first round strongly.
Garza opened Round 2 with aggression in the clinch, but Basharat created space and systematically picked him apart with precise, technical striking. Garza did manage to defend two more takedowns, and toward the end of the round, he landed his signature body shots, which seemed to get Basharat’s attention. In Round 3, Garza came out looking for a finish. He pushed forward, stuffed several takedowns, and attempted to turn the fight into a brawl. Yet, as the clock wound down, Basharat’s pedigree and control began to shine again, leaving Garza with a mounting sense of urgency and a tall task ahead.
Final thoughts: Steveson delivered a high-energy, crowd-pleasing debut that capped a lively night in Las Vegas. His athleticism and punching power are undeniable, and while the fight didn’t showcase his wrestling chops, it established him as a threat with potential for more to come. Garza, stepping in on short notice against a highly touted opponent, showed grit, speed, and moments of resilience, but Basharat’s combination of technique and pace proved to be the tougher matchup on this night. The UFC 329 prelims lived up to their billing as a night that tested both newcomers’ mettle, rewarded one with a spectacular finish, and left the other with lessons to build on as he continues his UFC journey.