Olympic champion and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson, mentored by Jon Jones, was arrested on June 15, 2019, along with a teammate on allegations of sexual assault with a foreign object. The alleged victim went to a hospital and immediately made accusations against the two members of the USA wrestling team. 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. With no witnesses beyond the alleged victim and the two wrestlers, and conflicting accounts, there was insufficient evidence for prosecution. Minnesota law was subsequently changed to allow victim testimony regardless of alcohol consumption. The case remains controversial with no direct proof of guilt.
Olympic champion and UFC newcomer Gable Steveson was arrested on June 15, 2019, along with a teammate on allegations of sexual assault with a foreign object, a case that drew significant attention before charges were ultimately dropped.
According to the reports, the alleged victim sought hospital treatment immediately following the incident and made accusations against the two USA wrestling team members. With no witnesses beyond the alleged victim and the two wrestlers, and conflicting accounts between the parties, prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to move forward. A legal loophole in Minnesota law at the time prevented the victim's testimony from being admitted into evidence because she had voluntarily consumed alcohol on the evening in question. Minnesota law was subsequently amended to allow victim testimony regardless of voluntary alcohol consumption. The case remains controversial, with no direct proof of guilt established.
Steveson enters the UFC landscape with a prominent connection to heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who has served as a mentor to the Olympic gold medalist. Jones, 38, holds a professional record of 28-1-0 and stands as one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport's history. The six-foot-four heavyweight, carrying a reach of 84 inches, averages 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy, while also contributing 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Steveson's UFC debut carries heightened scrutiny given the unresolved public controversy surrounding the 2019 case
- The Minnesota law change that followed the dropped charges adds a broader legal and social context to the story
- Jones's public mentorship role ties the UFC's reigning heavyweight champion directly to a figure now under renewed examination
