Colby Covington tells Gable Steveson to cut Jon Jones following UFC 331 loss

Colby Covington has publicly criticized Gable Steveson's training situation following the Olympic wrestler's shock 12-second knockout loss to underdog Sean Sharaf at UFC 331. Speaking to Submission Radio, the former interim UFC welterweight champion attributed Steveson's defeat to a departure from the wrestling fundamentals that made him an elite amateur competitor.

Covington singled out Steveson's work with Jon Jones—the heavyweight's Iowa Central Community College roommate and current training partner—as a primary concern. "Jon Jones is bad energy," Covington stated bluntly, urging Steveson to leave the camp and seek guidance elsewhere. He argued that Steveson has over-relied on striking while neglecting the grappling that should remain the foundation of his fighting arsenal.

"I definitely saw this coming," Covington explained. "He was over-hyping himself, overlooking other competitors and he just thought he was invincible." The welterweight pointed out that Steveson rarely attempts wrestling in fights, instead committing to striking exchanges—a tactical shift that Covington views as abandoning what made Steveson successful. "When you forget about what got you to the dance, that's always going to be a recipe for disaster," Covington concluded.

Steveson's rapid exit against Sharaf marks his first professional MMA loss and raises questions about his UFC trajectory. At heavyweight, wrestling-based fighters typically maintain a significant advantage, making Covington's assessment a pointed reminder that elite amateurs must adapt their core strengths to MMA rather than chase striking exchanges against heavier, more experienced strikers.