Jon Jones Takes Blame For Steveson's Early UFC 331 Exit

UFC heavyweight Jon Jones has taken responsibility for the controversial early exit of his protégé, Gable Steveson, from the Octagon following Steveson's 12-second knockout loss at UFC 331. Jones stated on social media that it was his decision to escort Steveson backstage immediately after the fight, an action that drew criticism for occurring before the official result was announced. The incident took place at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 19, where Steveson, a former Olympic wrestler making his second UFC appearance, was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in the opening seconds. Steveson subsequently left the cage before Sharaf's hand was raised, with Jones accompanying him. The departure sparked backlash from fans and observers. Jones addressed the situation in a post on X on September 21, writing, "I've seen some reports online and I really wanted to clear the air. It was my decision to take Gable straight to the back after the fight. Honestly, it was the first time in this situation for me and my instant reaction was to get my friend to the back to make sure he was OK.