Stephen Abas

Stephen Anthony Abas (born January 12, 1978) is an American Olympic freestyle wrestler and mixed martial artist. Abas became a three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion in the weight division while attending Fresno State University. Prior to JLHS he attended Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley. He and his brother Gerry Abas were members of the Wan Tu Wazuri wrestling club at Oakland Technical High School in Oakland.

College career Wrestling for Fresno State from 1998 to 2002, he earned four All-American honors and three National Championships at the NCAA DI wrestling championships. Abas placed fourth in the 118-pound weight class as a freshman and won the next three years in the weight class. He finished his college career with a 144–4 record, with 46 pins, going undefeated his last three college seasons at 125 pounds. Voted top 15 wrestlers in NCAA history.

International wrestling career Abas also is a decorated freestyle wrestler; winning gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games after defeating current Cuban world champion René Montero, competing in two world freestyle championships where in 2003 he stopped current Azerbaijani Olympic champion Namig Abdullayev and future twice Russian Olympic champion Mavlet Batirov, receiving a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. At the 2005 NCAA championships, he was named as one of the fifteen greatest wrestlers in NCAA history, alongside other standouts such as Kurt Angle, Cael Sanderson, and Dan Gable. Abas was also elected to the NCAA 75th Anniversary Wrestling Team.

Abas tried out for the 2008 USA Olympic Team and reached the finals of the Olympic Trials, losing to Henry Cejudo in a best-of-3 series, 2 matches to 1, even though he competed with a damaged knee. In 2008, he retired from competitive wrestling.

Mixed martial arts career He began an MMA career. He teaches and trains out of The Arena MMA gym in San Diego, alongside other notable athletes such as Diego Sanchez, Joe Duarte, Rani Yahya, K. J. Noons, Fabricio Camoes, and Xande Ribeiro.

MMA record Win

Clint Gerona TKO (Retirement) Rebel Fighter – Annihilation August 13, 2011

Amador County Fairgrounds, Plymouth, California Win

Joey de la Cruz Decision (Unanimous) TPF 5: Stars and Strikes September 7, 2010

Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, Lemoore, California Win

Sam Stevens-Milo Decision (Majority) TPF 4: Cinco de Mayhem May 5, 2010

Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, Lemoore, California Bantamweight debut

Personal life In 2009, Abas was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2018, Abas was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.