Gable Steveson says the man guiding his transition from Olympic wrestler to professional mixed martial artist is no ordinary coach: it’s Jon Jones, and the 25‑year‑old insists Jones’ mentorship is central to his plan to reach the sport’s highest levels.
Steveson, a two‑time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist who has burst onto the pro MMA scene, moved to 3‑0 after a first‑round stoppage at WFL 3. He traces much of that rapid progress to the relationship forged while helping Jones prepare for the former champion’s showdown with Stipe Miocic. Jones, who wanted physically imposing grapplers in camp, brought Steveson in; what began as a training partnership quickly deepened into a coaching relationship and close friendship, Steveson said.
“My relationship with him is everything,” Steveson told MMA Fighting. “He’s kind of created the way how I want to fight in the future. The dude’s a legend but he’s also my close friend now. He’s my close friend, he’s my coach, he’s everything in between.” Jones has publicly predicted that Steveson will reach the UFC sooner rather than later and suggested the heavyweight crown may not be far off — assessments the young wrestler welcomes even as he remains cautious about hype.
Steveson also stressed the broader support system around him, thanking long‑time striking coach Brandon Gibson and veteran trainer Greg Jackson, who were both in his corner at WFL 3 alongside Jones. He said the coaching blend has him “soaking in all the knowledge” and that the combined camp is producing results: “Right now, everybody’s smiling ear to ear and we’re going to keep it that way.”
The partnership has drawn attention beyond the cage because of Jones’ high profile and controversial history. Jones is widely regarded as one of MMA’s greatest competitors, but his career has been punctuated by arrests and drug‑testing controversies that have cost him wins and drawn criticism. Steveson acknowledged those headlines but argued they do not reflect the Jones he knows in the gym. “I don’t think he does [get enough credit],” Steveson said. “His mentorship is the best thing that we can have. He’s the best fighter of all‑time leading a new guy to maybe be that person also.”
Steveson, who became a wrestling sensation long before entering MMA, stressed that Jones’ confidence in him matters because it is rooted in firsthand observation of his work ethic. “He sees my work mentality. He sees everything that I can do from top to bottom. I would believe his word but I wouldn’t believe his word to the fullest extent because you’ve got to believe my word, also,” Steveson said. The athlete framed his role as an active participant in his own development — absorbing Jones’ guidance while continuing to prove himself in the cage.
With Jones now an integral part of his crew, Steveson said he intends to keep the former light heavyweight and heavyweight titleholder by his side as he climbs the ranks. Whether that ascent will follow Jones’ optimistic timeline — a relatively quick path to the UFC and beyond — remains to be seen, but Steveson’s comments underline a new chapter in the sport: an elite Olympic grappler pairing with one of MMA’s most accomplished fighters as he shapes his approach to heavyweight competition.