Stephen Abas

Stephen Abas
Stephen Abas
Born	January 12, 1978 (age 48)
Occupation(s)	Freestyle wrestler, mixed martial artist
Known for	Three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion; 2004 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Stephen Abas, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 1 December 2025

Stephen Anthony Abas (born January 12, 1978) is an American athlete known for his achievements in freestyle wrestling and mixed martial arts. He captured three NCAA Division I wrestling championships in the weight division while representing Fresno State University. Abas also competed at two world freestyle wrestling championships and earned a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Early life

Abas distinguished himself as a wrestler during his time at James Logan High School, where he became a three-time California state champion. Prior to attending JLHS, he was enrolled at Canyon Springs High School located in Moreno Valley. Along with his brother Gerry Abas, he trained with the Wan Tu Wazuri wrestling club based at Oakland Technical High School in Oakland.

College career

Competing for Fresno State between 1998 and 2002, Abas earned four All-American distinctions and claimed three NCAA Division I national titles. After finishing fourth at 118 pounds during his freshman year, he secured three straight championships competing at 125 pounds. Over his collegiate career, he amassed a record of 144 wins and only 4 losses with 46 victories by pinfall, remaining unbeaten throughout his final three seasons. His accomplishments rank him among the top 15 wrestlers in NCAA history.

International wrestling career

Abas represented the United States internationally in freestyle wrestling, participating in two world championships and attaining a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. In recognition of his collegiate success, he was selected in 2005 as one of the fifteen greatest NCAA wrestlers alongside renowned athletes such as Kurt Angle, Cael Sanderson, and Dan Gable, earning a place on the NCAA’s 75th Anniversary Wrestling Team. He advanced to the finals of the 2008 USA Olympic Trials but was defeated by Henry Cejudo while competing with a knee injury. Abas concluded his competitive wrestling career in 2008.

Mixed martial arts career

After retiring from wrestling, Abas transitioned into mixed martial arts and trains at The Arena MMA gym in San Diego. His training partners include prominent fighters like Diego Sanchez, Joe Duarte, Rani Yahya, K. J. Noons, Fabricio Camoes, and Xande Ribeiro.

MMA record

Personal life

In recognition of his athletic achievements, Abas was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Later, in 2018, he was honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

External links