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Jon Jones Sees UFC Gold in Star Prospect Future

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 10:26 PM ET

Jon Jones has fought alongside some of the greatest teammates in MMA history, but he believes he’s found his protégé in Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.

Steveson (1-0) recently launched his MMA career with a blistering debut. Scoring a stoppage win in just 98 seconds at LFA 217. The transition has been long anticipated, given his dominance in collegiate wrestling and the long line of wrestlers who’ve thrived inside the Octagon.

Now, with Jones in his corner, expectations have only grown. Asked if Steveson could one day be UFC champion, Jones didn’t hesitate.

“It’s not a matter of if he can, it’s a matter of when,” Jones wrote on X. “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.”

The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has been working with Steveson as both a training partner and mentor, helping to guide his early MMA journey.

"He has the perfect formula to go all the way to the top and then some" – Jon Jones

The has high praise for Gable Steveson #LFA217 pic.twitter.com/ZqkB16LGCL

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 13, 2025

Steveson’s Winding Path to MMA

Steveson’s journey hasn’t been straightforward. After winning Olympic freestyle wrestling gold in 2020, he signed with WWE, where his career never took off. A stint with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills ended without making the active roster. He returned to amateur wrestling at Minnesota before finally committing to MMA in 2024.

Steveson first trained at Kill Cliff FC in Florida before linking up with Jones, who brought him into camp ahead of his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. The relationship stuck, and Jones now views the 23-year-old heavyweight as his most important project outside of his own career.

What’s Next for Steveson

Steveson will headline an upcoming event under the Dirty Boxing Championship banner in October, a new promotion co-owned by Jones that mixes MMA and boxing rule sets. It’s a chance to gain experience while building his profile before what many expect will be an inevitable UFC run.

For Jones who remains uncertain about his own fighting future after publicly flirting with a comeback at next year’s historic UFC White House event coaching Steveson offers the opportunity to leave a legacy outside of the cage.

“If I don’t fight again, this is my fight,” Jones said recently. “Gable’s going to shock the world.”

With Jones guiding his development, Steveson may have the perfect blueprint for success. Elite wrestling, a superstar pedigree, and one of MMA’s greatest champions shaping his path. The only question now is not if but when Steveson’s journey leads him to the UFC heavyweight championship.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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