Jon Jones issues statement over Gable Steveson’s knockout loss, leaving the octagon immediately afterwards

Jon Jones has issued a statement taking responsibility for Gable Steveson's abrupt exit from the octagon following a devastating knockout loss at UFC 331. Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling and one of the sport's most hyped recent signings, suffered his first professional defeat just 12 seconds into the opening round when he was caught by a left hand from Sean Sharaf in front of a Los Angeles crowd.

Rather than remaining in the cage to acknowledge his opponent or address the audience, Steveson immediately left the octagon and headed backstage. The quick exit drew criticism and online speculation, but Jones clarified via Twitter that the decision was his own. "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. "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."

Jones emphasized his continued belief in Steveson's future, stating that "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." Steveson, who joined Jones' training camp while the legendary fighter was preparing for his bout against Stipe Miocic, had been a perfect 4-0 with four first-round finishes before Saturday's loss. The 12-second knockout marked a jarring introduction to professional MMA for the prized prospect, though the devastating nature of early losses in combat sports often prompts extended medical evaluations and recovery periods.