Jon Jones Takes Responsibility for Gable Steveson’s Early Exit After Historic Upset

Jon Jones claims he made the decision for Gable Steveson to leave the Octagon following a 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf.

Sean Sharaf (4-2) defeated Gable Steveson (4-1) via knockout just 12 seconds into their main card heavyweight bout at UFC 331 on Saturday. The finish, delivered by a left hook at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, stands as the third-fastest knockout in UFC heavyweight history. Sharaf entered the contest with an 0-2 record in the organization, while Steveson is a former Olympic wrestling gold medalist and two-time NCAA Division I national champion.

Following the defeat, Steveson faced criticism from figures including commentator Daniel Cormier for immediately exiting the Octagon. On Monday, UFC legend Jon Jones took responsibility for the early departure via a post on X, stating it was his decision to take Steveson straight to the back to ensure he was okay. Jones, who serves as a mentor to Steveson, cited his friend's well-being as his primary concern and expressed confidence that the prospect will eventually become one of the best heavyweights in the UFC.

Sharaf told ESPN he was not bothered by the early exit and anticipates the UFC will book a rematch due to the magnitude of the upset. He noted that while he expects a second meeting, Steveson must reflect on the loss, emphasizing that anything is possible in fighting.