Jon Jones is taking responsibility for Gable Steveson suffering a brutal knockout loss at UFC 331 this past weekend and immediately leaving the octagon rather than sticking around to congratulate his opponent Sean Sharaf on a job well done.
Steveson heard the boos from the Los Angeles crowd all week long but it felt like the crowd went supersonic after he got blasted with a left hand from Sharaf and suffered his first professional loss just 12 seconds into the opening round. Before Bruce Buffer could even read the decision, Steveson had bolted from the octagon to go backstage for medical treatment.
Now Jones is saying he made that call to send Steveson backstage as soon as the fight was over.
’”I’ve seen some reports on line and I really wanted to clear the air. It was my decision to take Gable straight to the back after the fight,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “Honestly it was the first time in this situation for me and my instant reaction was to get my friend to the back to make sure he was ok.
“Gable’s work ethic and will to win is there and I stand by him and believe he will go on to be one of the best heavyweights in the UFC. He will be back I’m sure of it.”
Of course Steveson was one of the most hyped prospects the UFC has signed in recent years after he captured the Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling back in 2020.
Steveson had talked about making the transition from wrestling to MMA previously but it was after joining Jones’ training camp as he prepared for a fight against Stipe Miocic that truly convinced him on a new career path.
Steveson was 4-0 with four first round finishes prior to his knockout loss on Saturday at UFC 331.
