Jon Jones says Gable Steveson needs ‘a lot more sparring’ after the 12-second loss, and points to GSP-Serra as proof careers survive nights like this

Jon Jones stated that Gable Steveson needs to incorporate significantly more sparring into his training following his 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331. Speaking to The Schmo, Jones voiced complete support for his protégé, noting that Steveson is back in the gym and in a positive mindset. Jones compared the setback to Georges St-Pierre's famous 2007 upset loss to Matt Serra to show that elite fighters can rebound from sudden defeats.

The September 19 bout in Los Angeles marked the first defeat of Steveson's professional MMA career, leaving him with a 4-1 record. Jones previously took responsibility for guiding Steveson out of the Octagon before the official decision was read. While Steveson's next fight has not been announced, Jones stressed that increased live rounds will be crucial for the 26-year-old Olympic gold medalist's development.