Jones Defends Steveson After 12-Second Knockout at UFC 331

Jon Jones has publicly accepted responsibility for directing Gable Steveson to the locker room immediately after his 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331, framing the move as a protective measure to check on his mentee's well-being. While Dana White dismissed the early exit as a common human reaction, Jones remains steadfast in his belief that Steveson will recover and rise to become one of the division's elite fighters.

• 2026-09-22 00:23 UTC

  Yahoo Sports confirms that Jones, who has served as a mentor to Steveson, stated his immediate instinct was to ensure the 26-year-old was physically okay after the shocker. The veteran champion emphasized his continued faith in Steveson's future potential, asserting that the Olympian will return to become a top-tier heavyweight.

  Source: Yahoo Sports
• 2026-09-22 00:16 UTC

  According to Yahoo Sports, Jon Jones has clarified via social media that he personally instructed Steveson to leave the arena immediately after the bout, citing his instinct to ensure the Olympic champion's well-being during a first-of-its-kind situation.

  Source: Yahoo Sports
• 2026-09-21 23:16 UTC

  Jon Jones claims he personally removed Gable Steveson from the cage after the shock loss to Sean Sharaf, rejecting online blame.

  Source: Yahoo Sports