Nine months ago, Joe Rogan touted Gable Steveson as already one of the top five heavyweights on the planet before he even made his UFC debut. But after Sean Sharaf knocked out Steveson in just 12 seconds at UFC 331, the longtime UFC commentator found himself giving the UFC heavyweight career advice.

During the recent JRE episode with Sean Sharaf, Rogan claimed that Steveson’s loss stemmed from trying to emulate Jon Jones, who has already cemented himself as a UFC GOAT.

“That’s the problem: You’re hanging out with a guy who’s the GOAT, and you start thinking you’re the next guy,” Rogan said. “You might be. You could be, if you do the right things. But if you believe it before it happens … you have to be cautious, but also confident. There’s this dance of the mind. There’s so much going on to be an elite fighter.” 

The 58-year-old’s current stance on Gable Steveson serves as nothing short of a reality check for the heavyweight, and there’s definitely a thread connected to his association with mentor Jon Jones.

Since the 26-year-old joined Jones’ camp and began training under the UFC legend, pressure has been mounting on him to uphold ‘Bones’ legacy. Steveson himself openly vowed to carry the torch for his mentor. His words after beating Elisha Ellison in the first round of his UFC debut at UFC 329 made that burden quite evident.

“The last time I was at MSG, Jon Jones spinning back kicked Stipe,” Steveson said. “So it would be cool to keep that legacy alive.”  

Well, the UFC handed Steveson the opportunity to recreate what Jones did against Miocic at UFC 309 in 2024. However, he ultimately fell short of that vision at UFC 331 in California. For the young Minnesota native, who had set his sights on carrying his mentor’s legacy, the knockout loss shattered the perception of a perfectly scripted career.

However, Steveson isn’t the only one feeling the pressure to match the greatness of Jones. The former two-division champion himself hyped up his protégé, boldly claiming that it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ Steveson lifts the belt.

“It’s not a matter of if he can, it’s a matter of when,” Jones posted on X last year while answering a fan’s question. “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.”    

When ‘Bones’ was around Steveson’s age, he was already the champion, having beaten names like Maurício Rua and Rampage Jackson. Many expected the same story to unfold for the former NCAA champion because he trains under the very man who achieved that feat. But when he couldn’t live up to those lofty expectations, the world turned against him.

This is the exact reason Joe Rogan tried to convey that Gable Steveson found himself tied to the glory of Jon Jones, which ultimately did more harm than good. Unless Steveson gets out of his UFC GOAT mentor’s shadow, a comeback could be tough.

But Joe Rogan isn’t the only one who feels this way. Former UFC fighter Matt Brown also believes Jon Jones isn’t the right coach for Gable Steveson after the brutal knockout against Sharaf. 

However, the veteran coach also pointed out Jones’ influence on Gable Steveson’s fighting style, which he believes isn’t the right fit for him. 

UFC coach points out Gable Steveson adopting Jon Jones’ style 

Sean Sharaf’s original cornerman, fellow UFC heavyweight Sergei Spivac, couldn’t be there for him at UFC 331 because his wife went into labor. Extreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick stepped in to replace Spivac as Sharaf’s cornerman for the event.

Following the Palestinian-American’s stunning victory, Nicksick opened up about Gable Steveson trying too hard to incorporate Jon Jones’ fighting style into his own, which he believes isn’t ideal for him.

“From an outside perspective looking in, I think maybe blending his style more into his striking,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie. “He’s trying to move around a little bit like Jon, and doing things that Jon does really well with his length. Gable’s a different build; a different style.

“So, I think maybe catering to his body type a little bit more. But again, that’s over time. You’re going to keep growing and keep learning.”

As Nicksick pointed out, Steveson tried to move too laterally with his chin exposed, which allowed Sharaf to land that left hook. Jones also uses plenty of lateral movement in his fights, and he showcased the maneuver against Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier, but he maintains his distance so he doesn’t get caught.

Steveson made the mistake and paid for it. Even so, the former NCAA champ appears reluctant to part ways with Jones as his coach despite critics pointing out that he should. Now, only time will reveal where Steveson’s career heads from here.