Gable Steveson claims Craig Jones requested him to take a dive in cancelled CJI 2 match; Jones responds

[ad_1] Gable Steveson is formally an MMA fighter, however his current skilled debut was imagined to comply with a grappling match in opposition to famed jiu-jitsu wizard Craig Jones.

Steveson was slated to participate in his first-career grappling match in late August in opposition to Jones at CJI 2. Jones had teased the potential for the match being his personal potential retirement, and in the end took on retired UFC veteran Chael Sonnen as a short-notice substitute after Steveson withdrew, choking Sonnen out twice in brief order.

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Talking on Monday's version of Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Present," Steveson acknowledged that the thought to face Jones was born in February, nonetheless he suffered a turf toe damage at first of this previous NCAA wrestling event, which resulted within the match's cancellation. On prime of that, although, there was additionally a pink flag the Olympic gold medalist alleged to have observed when he and Jones negotiated the match.

"Lengthy story quick, [there were] a pair funky stipulations round there that we did not agree upon," Steveson stated.

"In case you actually wish to ask, there was a glance within the eye of claiming, 'Hey, I'll retire after this match. I do not wish to take this loss. Are you able to do that for me?' And we'll depart it as that."

When requested if he was implying that Jones wished him to throw the match, Steveson stated sure.

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Steveson added that he was absolutely keen to compete within the match with out the alleged stipulation, however in the long run his turf toe flare-up was an excessive amount of to beat.

Now that the chance has handed and he efficiently debuted in MMA this previous Friday with a 98-second stoppage win at LFA 217, Steveson has little interest in rebooking the Jones grappling match.

"I used to be an thrilling match," he stated. "I used to be a match that we have been going to go on the market and promote tickets for, and go on the market and placed on an excellent present. Finally, the query did come alongside. We sat, we thought, we disagreed. We went again to them as time bought nearer. Simply popped up with a foul damage and needed to deal with my subsequent factor, which is placing the gloves on and ensuring I may care for what I wanted to care for.

"I personally didn't have any unwell intention with pulling out of this match. My foot, what would you like me to do? Would you like me to go on the market and simply limp round and never look good for anyone, and simply be certain every little thing simply runs down a hill that it does not have to be run down? I stayed quiet as a result of I am a person. I am not going to go on the market and converse dangerous about someone as a result of one thing's unsuitable or one thing did not go my manner. I take a look at issues another way. Possibly [Jones] does not as a result of he hasn't completed something in his area. He is misplaced to Gordon Ryan about three or 4 occasions. His group, The B-Workforce, received the Craig Jones Invitational however most likely should not have. In order that's a bizarre factor too — he is bought extra digging than worrying about me."

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Jones promptly reacted to Steveson's claims on Monday, writing on Instagram:

So that you agreed to a "work"?

However then bought injured and needed to pull out of a piece.

Make that make sense for me?

Jones added the sarcastic caption "A person of reality" to his submit and posted a number of follow-ups with meme edits of Steveson's interview, referring to the Olympic champion "Toe Jay Steveson."

Steveson, 25, has been an athletic renaissance man since he captured Olympic gold in 2020. After the huge profession spotlight, the American tried his hand in a quick stint with the NFL's Buffalo Payments with out having any prior soccer expertise. Steveson additionally dipped his toes into the skilled wrestling world by signing with WWE. When neither avenue panning out, Steveson returned to collegiate wrestling for the 2024-25 season, in the end ending because the runner-up in 2025's NCAA event finals.

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After his first MMA win this previous weekend, Steveson does not plan to re-commit to the wrestling world by pursuing the 2028 Olympics. He goals to return for his sophomore MMA outing earlier than 2026, concentrating on a cushty struggle weight of 245 kilos after coming into his professional debut at a heavier 259 kilos.

"I had the largest rush of my life placing on these gloves and getting that victory. I wish to preserve it that manner," Steveson stated.

"I wish to stick with MMA. I wish to take it at some point at a time. I am 1-0 proper now. I wish to be 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, and simply preserve it going, and simply consider in myself. You have to deal with one factor, and I wish to deal with this."

Contemplating his credentials, Friday's efficiency was as dominant as may've been anticipated from Steveson, who smashed by Braden Peterson in LFA 217's co-main occasion. Due to his background alone, Steveson is already one of many prime prospects in all of MMA. And whereas the chance will doubtless be there to get snatched up by a serious group earlier than accruing vital in-cage expertise, he likes the thought of staying put in LFA for as many fights as attainable.

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There is no rush for Steveson to achieve the head of the game, even when that is in the end the place he sees himself.

"My purpose is to be UFC [heavyweight] champion," Steveson stated. "I wish to go on the market and be with the most effective, look the most effective within the face, go on the market and present the world what I am manufactured from — and I do know I can do it. If these followers suppose I am prepared, and so they wish to see Gable Steveson the place he must go, in fact. However in my eyes, do I've issues to work on? After all, and I'll preserve engaged on these issues and maintaining displaying the [progress] as we go alongside.

"I've by no means tried to leap the gun. The youthful model of me — I am 25 now — if I used to be 21, I may need stated, 'Hey man, throw me on the market and let me see the sharks.' However proper now, I do know the place I stand and what I might be. I am honored to be in a spot with nice individuals round me — Jon Jones, Brandon Gibson, Greg Jackson. I've an excellent group with me. After they say the time is correct, we'll be proper there."