Gable Steveson, an Olympic champion wrestler and UFC newcomer mentored by Jon Jones, was arrested in June 2019 along with a teammate on charges of sexual assault involving a foreign object. The alleged victim went to the hospital and immediately filed charges. However, charges were eventually dropped due to a legal loophole that prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol the night of the alleged incident. There were no witnesses other than the victim and the two accused wrestlers, and their accounts contradicted each other. While no direct proof of Steveson's guilt exists, the law was changed after this case to allow victim testimony regardless of alcohol consumption. The post notes that opinions on the matter are subjective, and includes footage of Steveson celebrating with Jon Jones at a Dirty Boxing event.
A sexual assault case involving Olympic gold medalist and UFC prospect Gable Steveson has resurfaced as the wrestler begins building his profile in mixed martial arts under the mentorship of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
According to reports, Steveson was arrested in June 2019 alongside a teammate on charges of sexual assault involving a foreign object. The alleged victim sought hospital treatment immediately following the incident and filed charges without delay. Despite those steps, the case was eventually dismissed through a legal loophole that barred the victim's testimony from being admitted as evidence because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol on the night in question. No witnesses other than the victim and the two accused were present, and their accounts directly contradicted one another. In the wake of the case, the relevant law was changed to allow victim testimony regardless of prior alcohol consumption.
No direct proof of Steveson's guilt was established in the legal proceedings, and no conviction resulted. The case's resurgence, however, coincides with Steveson's increasing visibility in combat sports circles, including footage circulating of him celebrating alongside Jones at a Dirty Boxing event.
Jones, 38, is one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history, holding a professional record of 28 wins, one loss, and no draws. The six-foot-four heavyweight, who fights out of an orthodox stance and carries an 84-inch reach, has long been regarded as a generational talent and has taken a visible role in Steveson's development.
Why it matters
- The case's dismissal stemmed from a legal gap that has since been closed by lawmakers, raising questions about the adequacy of earlier protections for assault survivors.
- Steveson's association with Jones places the story under a wider spotlight as both men operate in the public eye of combat sports.
- The circumstances of the dropped charges, rather than an acquittal at trial, leave the factual record incomplete and contested.
