Olympic wrestling champion and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson, who is mentored by Jon Jones, was involved in a 2019 sexual assault case that has resurfaced in discussion. On June 15, 2019, Steveson and a teammate from the U.S. wrestling team were arrested and charged with group sexual assault involving a foreign object, with the victim reporting to a hospital and immediately making accusations. The charges were ultimately dropped due to a legal loophole that prevented the victim's testimony from being admissible because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol the evening of the incident. There were no witnesses other than the victim and the two wrestlers, and their accounts contradicted each other. While there was no direct proof of Steveson's guilt, the law was changed after this case to ensure victim testimony is now considered under any circumstances. The post notes that video exists of Steveson celebrating strangely with Jones at a Dirty Boxing event.
A sexual assault case involving Olympic wrestling champion and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson has resurfaced in public discussion as he begins building his professional mixed martial arts career under the mentorship of Jon Jones.
According to the resurfaced account, Steveson and a U.S. wrestling teammate were arrested on June 15, 2019, and charged with group sexual assault involving a foreign object. The victim reported to a hospital immediately following the incident and made accusations against both men. Ultimately, the charges were dropped after a legal determination that the victim's testimony could not be admitted because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol on the evening in question. No other witnesses were present beyond the victim and the two wrestlers, whose accounts of events contradicted one another. While no direct proof of guilt was established, the case is noted to have contributed to a subsequent change in the law, ensuring that victim testimony is now admissible under any circumstances regardless of voluntary alcohol consumption.
Jones, who serves as Steveson's mentor, is a former two-division UFC champion currently listed at 28 wins and one loss at 38 years old. The six-foot-four, 193-centimeter heavyweight carries an 84-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy of 58 percent with 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute across his career. The discussion also references video footage of Steveson celebrating alongside Jones at a Dirty Boxing event, though no further detail about the nature of that footage is provided in the report.
Why it matters
- The resurfaced case raises questions about the vetting process for fighters entering the UFC under high-profile mentorships
- Steveson has not yet established a verified professional MMA record in the AgentMMA database, making this off-cage history a central part of his public profile at this stage
- The 2019 legal outcome prompted a real legislative change regarding victim testimony and alcohol, giving the case significance beyond the individuals involved
