A Shocking Upset at UFC 331
UFC 331 delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Sean Sharaf, who had never won a UFC fight before, knocked out Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson in just 12 seconds. It was the first exchange of the fight. Sharaf caught Steveson with a massive left hook as Steveson was pulling back. Steveson was knocked out cold immediately. After the fight, Steveson and Jon Jones, who was in his corner, left the arena to loud boos from the crowd.
Read More: UFC 331 Results: Joshua Van Outlasts Alexandre Pantoja in Fight of the Year Thriller
Colby Covington Says He Saw It Coming
Retired UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington recently shared his thoughts on the upset. He said he was not surprised by the outcome. According to Covington, Steveson got too confident and forgot about his wrestling background. Covington told Submission Radio that Steveson was over-hyping himself and overlooking other competitors. He said Steveson thought he was invincible.
Covington added that Steveson is a great athlete and an Olympic champion wrestler, but when you get away from what brought you to the dance, it is never good. He pointed out that Steveson does not try to wrestle in his fights anymore. Instead, he goes straight into striking. Covington said he does not know if that is because Steveson does not believe in his cardio or if he just fell in love with his hands and wants to knock guys out. But forgetting what got you there is always a recipe for disaster.
Covington criticises Jon Jones
Covington also had strong words about Jon Jones, who serves as Steveson’s coach and mentor. Covington said Jones has bad energy. He called Jones a demon and listed off the many bad things Jones has done to women, to people, to cops, and to drug testers. Covington said Jones is a horrible person. He believes that when you surround yourself with that kind of bad energy all the time, it rubs off on you.
Covington said Steveson needs to surround himself with good people who are like-minded, who work hard, and who have faith in God. He said Steveson should definitely cut Jon Jones, get to a new camp, get focused, and start believing in himself again. Most importantly, Covington said Steveson needs to start using his wrestling, which is what got him to the dance in the first place.
What’s Next for Steveson and Jones
The fallout from Steveson’s knockout loss is still developing. Given his history of abandoning athletic pursuits, it is not certain that Steveson will even fight again. It is also unclear whether he would be willing to completely change his training camp. As for Jones, this was his first public move toward a coaching role. Having his star pupil knocked out in such brutal fashion has to be frustrating for him.
The Importance of Wrestling for Steveson
At the very least, actually trying to wrestle seems like a good idea if Steveson does decide to fight again. He is an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling. That is his greatest strength. In his UFC debut, he chose to stand and strike with Sharaf instead of using his grappling. That decision cost him the fight in just 12 seconds. If Steveson wants to have a successful MMA career, he will need to rely on his wrestling. He will need to take opponents down and control them on the ground. That is what he is best at. Striking may come later, but for now, wrestling should be his focus.
Final Thoughts
Colby Covington’s comments add another layer to the story. He believes Steveson’s loss was predictable and that Jon Jones is a bad influence. Whether Steveson listens to that advice remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Steveson has a lot of talent, and if he wants to succeed in MMA, he needs to go back to what made him great. That means using his wrestling. The UFC 331 upset was a tough lesson, and fans will be watching to see what he does next.