Henry Cejudo warns Bo Nickal after Gable Steveson’s 12-second KO loss

Henry Cejudo has cautioned elite wrestlers about rushing their mixed martial arts careers following Gable Steveson's stunning 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist, was a overwhelming -2500 favorite but suffered a historic upset when Sharaf landed a left hook early in the opening round. Cejudo specifically expressed concern that collegiate wrestling standout Bo Nickal should heed the lesson.

Speaking on the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast, Cejudo emphasized the importance of patience and respect for the sport. He believes Steveson, a fellow Olympic champion, remains too inexperienced for elite UFC competition and recommended he spend a full year focusing exclusively on striking and defensive improvements rather than pursuing additional grappling matches.

"You cannot hurry up in the game," Cejudo said. "And I hope Bo Nickal can also see this. You got to be able to respect the game, focus on mixed martial arts and just do that." Cejudo suggested Steveson step back from competition to develop a well-rounded skillset before returning.

Steveson entered the Sharaf bout undefeated at 4–0 in MMA, having finished all four previous fights in the first round. Nickal (9–1) has also experienced mixed results in the UFC after earning his contract via Dana White's Contender Series in 2023. After going undefeated in his first four UFC fights, Nickal was stopped by Reinier de Ridder but has since rebounded with back-to-back stoppage victories over Rodolfo Vieira and Kyle Daukaus.