Gable Steveson’s knockout loss at UFC 331 was every bit as shocking as fans made it out to be. The Olympic champion was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds, making it the third-fastest knockout in heavyweight history. Even more surprising was the fact that Steveson entered the fight as a massive -2400 favorite.
At just 25 years old, Steveson was widely viewed as one of the future stars of the 265-pound division and someone who could eventually become heavyweight champion. And there was plenty of reason for the hype. He had been training under Jon Jones and alongside coaches like Greg Jackson, who are among the most respected names in MMA.
But after the loss, veterans like Matt Brown and Colby Covington suggested that Steveson should consider leaving Jones and finding a new camp. Jon Anik, meanwhile, questioned whether Steveson would even make it to 10 UFC fights after such a brutal setback. Now, Joe Rogan has offered his own take, suggesting Steveson may have started to feel invincible because of his association with Jones.
Joe Rogan Says Jon Jones’ GOAT Status May Have Made Gable Steveson Feel Unbeatable
During his latest JRE MMA Show #186 with Sean Sharaf, the UFC commentator discussed whether training alongside Jones may have made Steveson too reckless. In simpler terms, Rogan believes Steveson may have started seeing himself as the next Jon Jones before actually earning that status.
Rogan said, “That’s the problem: you’re hanging out with a guy who’s the GOAT, and you start thinking you’re the next guy. You might be. You could be, if you do the right things. But if you believe it before it happens? You have to be cautious but also confident. There’s this dance of the mind. There’s so much going on to be an elite fighter.”
It’s easy to see where Rogan is coming from. Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, with 16 UFC title fight wins, championship success in two divisions, and wins over several former world champions. So when someone like Jones believes you can become the future of the division and takes you under his wing, it’s understandable how that confidence could grow.
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Rogan then brought up Kamaru Usman as an example. During his prime, Usman looked like he was on his way to dethroning Georges St-Pierre as the greatest welterweight ever. But his shocking knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 changed everything, especially considering how much of the fight Usman had controlled.
The UFC commentator said, “You have to be aware. Look at Kamaru Usman. Beating Leon Edwards for four rounds, all of a sudden one head kick – boom, lost the title. Never the same guy because you’re human. As tough as Kamaru is, he’s a f*cking human being.”
Rogan also gave Sharaf plenty of credit for keeping MMA’s unpredictable nature alive. The massive underdog had never picked up a UFC win in his previous two outings, yet he walked into UFC 331 and finished Steveson in just 12 seconds.
Rogan said, “It’s a wild dance of possibilities, but it’s also one of the reasons why people love the sport so much. What you did elevated the whole sport.”
And that pretty much sums up why MMA is so unpredictable. Steveson was a massive -2400 favorite, while Sharaf was coming off two UFC losses. None of that mattered once the cage door closed. Sharaf found his opening, landed the shot, and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the night in just 12 seconds.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
