Gable Steveson, an Olympic champion wrestler and protégé of Jon Jones who joined the UFC, was arrested on June 15, 2019, along with a teammate while training with the U.S. wrestling team. Both were charged with gang rape involving the use of a foreign object after a woman reported the incident at a hospital. The charges were ultimately dropped due to a legal loophole that prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol on the evening of the incident. There were no witnesses besides the victim and the two wrestlers, and their accounts contradicted each other. While there is no direct evidence of Steveson's guilt, the law was changed specifically after this case to ensure victim testimony is now considered under all circumstances. The post notes that Jones and Steveson were seen celebrating together in a video from a Dirty Boxing event.
Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler who signed with the UFC and trained under heavyweight champion Jon Jones, was arrested on June 15, 2019, alongside a teammate while the pair were working out with the U.S. wrestling team. Both men faced charges of gang rape involving the use of a foreign object after a woman reported the incident at a hospital.
The charges against Steveson were ultimately dropped, but not because of any finding of innocence. A legal loophole at the time prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted as evidence because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol on the night of the incident. With no witnesses other than the victim and the two wrestlers, and their accounts directly contradicting hers, prosecutors could not proceed. There is no direct evidence establishing Steveson's guilt.
The case had a lasting legal impact. The law was subsequently changed in direct response to the circumstances of this incident, ensuring that victim testimony is now admissible regardless of whether alcohol was voluntarily consumed.
Jon Jones, Steveson's mentor and training partner, holds a professional MMA record of 28 wins, one loss, and no draws. The 38-year-old heavyweight stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and has long been considered among the most accomplished fighters in UFC history. Jones and Steveson were seen together in video footage from a Dirty Boxing event, publicly celebrating their association.
Why it matters
- The charges were dropped through a legal mechanism, not a determination of innocence, a distinction the law has since been updated to prevent recurring in similar cases.
- The legislative change means comparable cases going forward will allow victim testimony under circumstances that previously barred it.
- Steveson's connection to Jones and his UFC signing means the allegations carry relevance within the broader heavyweight division landscape.
