Daniel Cormier believes there are pink flags with Gable Steveson coaching below his longtime rival, Jon Jones.
Steveson has been extensively touted as a future main power in MMA after an explosive skilled debut that noticed him rating a first-round knockout of Braden Peterson at LFA 217 in September.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling has since shifted his full focus to combined martial arts and is presently coaching below the tutelage of former two-division UFC champion and extensively regarded all-time nice Jones, whom he has praised on a number of events for the worth of the educational expertise.
Gable Steveson is extremely thought to be the heavyweight prospect to observe in 2026, with many believing he may rise shortly if he secures a UFC contract. Nevertheless, UFC Corridor of Famer Cormier cautions that the 25-year-old Indiana native could wrestle to succeed in his full potential if he continues coaching below Jones.
Daniel Cormier Suggests Gable Steveson’s MMA Growth Might Stall Beneath Jon Jones’ Steerage
Throughout a current look on The Ariel Helwani Present, Daniel Cormier was requested to share his ideas on Gable Steveson’s long-term future in MMA. “DC” was generous in his praise, reiterating that Steveson possesses the instruments to sooner or later turn out to be a heavyweight world champion.
“I consider he has an opportunity. I consider he has an actual probability to be a world champion,” Cormier mentioned. “I do consider that him doing Dirty Boxing, the place he primarily takes away his biggest talent and the willingness to do this, goes effectively towards him changing into a world champion.
Nevertheless, the previous two-division champ additionally issued a transparent warning, suggesting that Steveson’s progress could stall if he continues coaching below the affect of Jon Jones, arguing it might finally restrict how far he can go within the sport.
“I consider that there are another components that will sluggish him down… his coach is Jon Jones. I believe that so long as he lets the opposite coaches coach him, sure. But when Jon is definitely teaching him, I don’t know… I don’t even suppose Gable is ever going to fall into that lure of creating these errors.”
Gable Steveson final competed at Anthony Pettis FC 21 in November, the place he delivered a first-round knockout of Kevin Hein to increase his skilled MMA file to 2-0.
Earlier than that outing, Steveson examined himself within the hybrid promotion Soiled Boxing at DBX 4 in October, scoring a blistering 15-second knockout of Billy Swanson.
