Gable Steveson needs to stop trying to be Jon Jones, claims MMA coach

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Gable Steveson may need to reconsider his partnership with Jon Jones.

We have arguably just witnessed the biggest upset in UFC history. Steveson was supposed to steamroll Sean Sharaf and treat him as an afterthought on his way to the title. An Olympic gold medalist with power in his hands, he has all the attributes to be great in the sport. But a devastating knockout just 12 seconds into his second UFC outing threatens to derail his hype.

At just 26, Gable Steveson has many years to refine his skills and reach the pinnacle of the sport. Believing he has good coaches around him, MMA coach Eric Nicksick expects Steveson to bounce right back.

“This guy, being the ultimate competitor, you know, an Olympian, I’m sure he’s chomping at the bit to get back in there,” Nicksick said. “I think he’s got a great coaching staff around him, with Brandon and Greg and Jon Jones; one of the best to ever do it.”

But to reach the top, changes have to be made. Despite his deep wrestling history, Gable Steveson is still green in mixed martial arts. Steveson has just five fights in the sport and hasn’t had a taste of different bodies and styles on the regional scene before making the jump to the UFC.

Not everyone needs vast experience to be great in the UFC, but one thing they do need is to play to their strengths. Eric Nicksick sees Steveson trying to replicate Jon Jones’ style inside the octagon without possessing the same length, reach, and athleticism as his mentor. To succeed, Nicksick wants Steveson to figure himself out as a fighter instead of mirroring Jones.

“From an outside perspective looking in, I think maybe blending his style more into his striking,” Nicksick added. “He’s trying to move around a little bit like Jon, and doing things that Jon does really well with his length. Gable’s a different build; a different style. So, I think maybe catering to his body type a little bit more. But again, that’s over time. You’re going to keep growing and keep learning.”