Henry Cejudo has some advice for Gable Stevenson after the knockout he suffered at UFC 331 , held last Saturday (19). Jon Jones ' pupil was defeated by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds, in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Despite the setback, the former UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist sees a path for the heavyweight's (up to 120,2 kg) future.
During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo stated that the result did not surprise him and emphasized that Steveson cannot rush his MMA career. According to the former champion, the fighter needs to respect the adaptation process to the sport and focus his efforts on developing as a mixed martial arts athlete. Cejudo also pointed out that Steveson should dedicate an entire year to improving his defense.
“For me, this is no surprise, and I hate to say it. You can’t rush this sport, and I hope Bo Nickal can see that too. Man, you need to respect the sport, focus on MMA and just do that. What I would say now about Gable Stevenson , and I’ll say this to you right now, is that he needs to spend a whole year improving defensively,” said Henry Cejudo.
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Subsequently, the former Olympic champion argued that Steveson should focus his training on striking if that is the path he chooses for his career. Cejudo recommended that the heavyweight temporarily set aside other activities, such as wrestling and grappling competitions, to focus exclusively on improving his stand-up game and, especially, his defense.
“Because if he’s going to fight standing up, then he should spend a whole year training only that. He’s still young. Forget anything else he’s doing with fighting, grappling, and all those other activities. If the plan is to be the best in the world, forget all that and focus on striking, focus on defense, and do the complete job. Because when that chin gets hit, my brother, it’s going to drop,” concluded the triple C.
End of the hype?
Gable Stevenson was brutally knocked out by Sean Sharaf in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X
Considered one of the most anticipated names in the UFC, Gable Stevenson barely had time to warm up in his second fight in the organization. In the first few seconds, Jon Jones ' protégé tried to advance on Sean Sharaf, but was surprised by a series of crosses. The last blow, a left cross, landed squarely and instantly knocked down the Olympic medalist.
GABLE STEVESON JUST GOT KNOCKED OUT
The biggest upset in history????
The Olympic rapist champion is screwed! pic.twitter.com/fAoLopi6gj
— José Louis (@concatenarsim) September 20, 2026
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