Veteran Coach Reveals key Insight Behind Gable Steveson’s UFC Upset Loss, Backs Olympian to Come Back Stronger

Gable Steveson was laid out in just 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf, handing the Olympic gold medalist his first loss inside the promotion. The defeat was a brutal one for the 26-year-old, with Steveson and his mentor Jon Jones reportedly leaving the arena before the official result was announced as the crowd continued to rain down boos.

In the aftermath, much of the conversation naturally centered on Steveson, Jones, and the influence of the UFC legend on the young heavyweight. Veteran MMA coach John Wood, however, sees things differently.

John Wood Points to the Pressure Behind Gable Steveson’s Shock UFC Loss

Rather than writing Steveson off after the shocking UFC 331 defeat, the Syndicate MMA coach offered a different perspective on what may have played a bigger role in the Olympian's monumental loss while making it clear that he still believes Steveson can come back stronger.

During a recent conversation with Joe Noecker of Home of Fight, Wood shared his thoughts on the UFC 331 upset. The Syndicate MMA head coach first gave credit where it was due, praising the massive underdog for delivering a performance few saw coming.

“Obviously, Sean Sharaf was a massive complete underdog, just crazy, one of those things that happens in MMA. This is why MMA is great,” he said. “This is why people love it, because you absolutely have no idea ever what’s really going to happen. He is probably one of the biggest betting underdogs to win a fight like that.”

Wood then turned his attention to Steveson and the circumstances surrounding his rapid rise in the UFC.

The promotion had quickly put plenty of spotlight on the Olympic gold medalist, giving him a major platform almost immediately after his arrival. And according to Wood, there is a difference between performing on a massive stage in wrestling and finding yourself under the same kind of spotlight in MMA.

“Gable is still very young in his MMA career, and obviously sometimes when you get hyped up like that and those kinds of things, you know when you’re put on those big stages that quick, even though the guy has been performing his whole life at that level, it's just different,” he explained.

Different Fights, Different Challenges for Steveson 

Steveson had already experienced a major UFC stage in his debut at UFC 329, which featured Conor McGregor’s return and was one of the promotion’s biggest events. The University of Minnesota alumnus handled that occasion well, stopping Elisha Ellison via first-round TKO.

UFC 331 was a different test. It was Steveson’s first appearance on a UFC main card, and the attention surrounding the 26-year-old had only grown since his debut. There was the Olympic pedigree, the hype surrounding his transition to MMA, the Jones connection, and the expectations that came with being presented as one of the promotion’s most intriguing heavyweight prospects.

For all his experience under the brightest lights in wrestling, Wood believes MMA presented Steveson with something different and perhaps something he simply wasn't ready for yet.

Despite the brutal 12-second defeat, Wood remains firmly in Steveson’s corner. “It's different when you get to those arenas, and that stuff happens. That kind of sh*t happens. He will be back, and I truly believe he will be one of the better guys when this is all said and done,” Wood added.

Is Jon Jones Really the Right Voice for Gable Steveson?

Besides Steveson and his game plan for Sharaf, the Jones connection has been one of the most intriguing parts of Steveson’s MMA journey. But after a 12-second knockout loss, it has suddenly become one of the biggest talking points around the Olympian as well.

Former UFC welterweight contender Matt Brown questioned whether Jones can truly guide Steveson through a setback he has never experienced himself, while Colby Covington went much further, blaming the association for what he called “bad energy” around the heavyweight.

The two veterans are coming from very different places, but their underlying point carries weight. Case in point: Steveson is still learning MMA, and his mentor plays a significant role in his MMA journey.

That doesn't erase the “GOAT’s” experience or his success inside the Octagon. Steveson’s first UFC defeat has certainly raised a question that seemed far less urgent before UFC 331: whether he needs to build his own identity as a fighter rather than trying to follow the path of the man in his corner.