Jon Jones backs Gable Steveson after 12-second knockout and says he regrets missing the White House card

Jones defends Steveson

Former UFC champion Jon Jones has defended his training partner Gable Steveson, the former WWE prospect whose second UFC fight ended in a 12-second knockout loss. Jones made the comments in an interview with The Schmo, according to Last Word on Sports, whose story was republished by Yahoo Sports, and EssentiallySports. ^{[1] [2] [7] [8]}

"Gable's doing great. Gable's doing really, really awesome," Jones said. He called Steveson "extraordinary" as an athlete and said, "He's an awesome father and an awesome husband and a great son." ^{[1] [2]}

Jones pointed to Georges St-Pierre's knockout loss to Matt Serra, one of the best-known upsets in UFC history, as an example of a great fighter recovering from defeat. "If you think about it, all the great fighters have had knockouts and losses," he said, according to both outlets. ^{[1] [2]}

'A lot more sparring'

Jones also pointed to a change in preparation for Steveson and the rest of his camp. "I feel like, as a team, we need to add a lot more sparring," he said, as quoted by Last Word on Sports and EssentiallySports. Both outlets reported that Jones said he believes in Steveson as a person and as an athlete. ^{[1] [2]}

The UFC 331 knockout

Steveson lost to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19, according to Wrestling Inc and ClutchPoints. Sharaf, a heavy underdog, landed a left hook 12 seconds into the fight, ending it almost at once, according to those outlets and Agent MMA. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

It was Steveson's first professional MMA loss and left his record at 4-1, according to ClutchPoints and Agent MMA. He had won his UFC debut earlier in 2026, Wrestling Inc and ClutchPoints reported. ^{[8] [9] [7]}

Regret over the White House card

In the same interview with The Schmo, Jones said that not fighting on UFC Freedom 250, the card held at the White House, still bothers him. "I usually don't regret decisions, but that was one of my big regrets in life, not being a part of the White House," he said, according to Middle Easy and Boxing News. "That was one of the few nights in my career where I was just thinking, I should have been there." ^{[3] [4]}

Jones said he believes his win over Stipe Miocic was the last fight of his career, according to Middle Easy and Sherdog, whose story was republished by Yahoo Sports. "If I never fight again, I'm pretty damn happy," Jones said, according to Middle Easy and Boxing News. ^{[3] [10] [4]}

Door left open

Jones gave a similar answer on X when a fan asked whether he would fight again. "More than likely, I won't fight again," he wrote. "But as of right now, I'm still getting drug tested. Leaving doors open, you never know what the future holds." The post was reported by Last Word on Sports and Boxing News. ^{[5] [6]}

Jones remains in the UFC's drug-testing pool, according to both outlets, which keeps a return possible even as he describes himself as likely done. ^{[5] [6]}