Jon Jones Hints at Coaching Wrestling Phenom Gable Stevenson to MMA World Championship Glory

Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones talks about coaching Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson in the future.

Jon Jones Hints at Coaching Wrestling Phenom Gable Stevenson to MMA World Championship Glory

Jon Jones to coach Gable Stevenson (via MMA Fighting)

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones shocked the entire MMA world earlier this year by suddenly announcing his retirement. The veteran fighter was previously in talks to fight Tom Aspinall, but he ultimately chose to step away. Since then, Jones has been enjoying his retirement life, recently sharing his newfound interest in coaching and guiding fighters

Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson has trained along with Jones’ team, including coaches Brandon Gibson and other camp partners. Jones has mentored Steveson, inviting him into his Albuquerque training camps to prepare for Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. In a recent X interaction with a fan, Jones talked about his future plans to coach Steveson to UFC glory. 

It’s not a matter of if he can, it’s a matter of when. I’ve had many great teammates over the years, but I’ve always said if I would ever be a coach it would have to be a Wrestler who was completely committed to success. I found my guy and I’m excited to add world championship coach to my resume.

Jon Jones via X

Steveson won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling at Tokyo 2020, becoming the youngest U.S. heavyweight Olympic champion in decades. He earned multiple NCAA Division I national championships at the University of Minnesota, including two individual titles. Steveson made his MMA debut at LFA 217, facing Braden Peterson, achieving a dominant win in under two minutes.

He used a single-leg takedown early and controlled the fight with ground-and-pound and submission threats to end the fight via TKO. His debut validated hype around his transition, showing high potential in MMA’s heavyweight division via wrestling. Going forward, Steveson is headlining Dirty Boxing 4 on October 30, facing Billy Swanson under a ruleset limiting traditional MMA techniques.

Jon Jones, as a part-owner of Dirty Boxing, has taken an active role in mentoring Gable Steveson and cornering him. Despite expressing his strong desire to join UFC, Steveson has temporarily placed that goal on hold for Jones’ promotion.

Historically, Olympic wrestlers like Daniel Cormier, Ben Askren, and Henry Cejudo successfully transitioned into MMA, becoming champions or contenders. Olympic wrestling offers unmatched grappling, discipline, and international competitive experience, which helps create the foundation for MMA.

Jon Jones’ brutal coaching tips 

Jon Jones is widely regarded as a fighting machine, possessing some of the most brutal techniques ever showcased in MMA. He became the youngest champion in UFC history at just 23, later defending his championship title more times than any fighter. Jones has delivered some of the nastiest highlight-reel finishes, leaving fans and opponents stunned by his ruthless fighting style.

Jon Jones' elbow strikes
Jon Jones’ elbow strikes (via X)

Among his dangerous weapons are the oblique kick, devastating spinning elbows, and creative strikes, each proving extremely effective inside competition. His unique blend of reach, power, and creativity allows him to dismantle opponents systematically, often leaving them unable to counter. In a viral video, Jon Jones was seen coaching some young fighters and asking them about using elbows.

I know when I’m human, the skull feels like the back of my hand because I’ve elbowed so many people in the face and no one’s getting it. Elbows stop the fight. When people get elbowed in the face and they haven’t seen their own blood before, half the battle’s won already right there. You’d be surprised how many fighters haven’t seen their own blood.

Jon Jones, while coaching. 

Apart from his fighting skills, Jones frequently faces criticism for relying on dirty techniques, sparking debates about his controversial tactics. Rivals such as Daniel Cormier and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson have openly accused Jones of repeatedly using eye pokes to gain an advantage. Only Dominick Reyes ever managed to effectively counter those notorious eye pokes, cleverly timing punches to neutralize Jones’ tactic.

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