Colby Covington has pointed to Gable Steveson's close association with Jon Jones as a contributing factor in Steveson's recent defeat. Covington urged Steveson to cut ties with Jones, change training camps, refocus, and start incorporating his wrestling more effectively in fights.
Colby Covington has publicly attributed part of Gable Steveson's recent MMA loss to the young heavyweight's close relationship with Jon Jones, calling on Steveson to distance himself from Jones and make significant changes to his career trajectory.
Covington, 38, carries a 17-5-0 professional record and has long been one of the welterweight division's most vocal and recognizable figures. Fighting out of MMA Masters, "Chaos" is known for his relentless pressure and elite wrestling output, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. He was direct in his assessment, urging Steveson to change training camps, sharpen his focus, and lean into his wrestling background more deliberately inside the cage.
Steveson, 26, is among the more intriguing prospects to enter MMA in recent years. A standout amateur wrestler, he holds a 4-1-0 professional record and brings a physical frame of five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach. His striking volume, at 15.46 significant strikes landed per minute, is eye-catching, and he connects at a 71 percent accuracy rate. However, his verified numbers show zero takedowns per 15 minutes, a striking detail given his decorated wrestling pedigree — and precisely the gap Covington appears to be highlighting.
Jon Jones, 39, holds a 28-1-0 record and is widely regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats. Standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, he lands 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and averages 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Steveson's failure to convert his elite wrestling into takedowns in MMA raises real questions about his developmental path
- Covington's critique puts Jones's mentorship role under scrutiny at a delicate point in Steveson's young career
- Whether Steveson heeds the advice — particularly around camp changes — could shape how quickly he rebounds from his first professional loss
