Gable Steveson’s UFC 331 outing quickly turned into a nightmare. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist was knocked out by Sean Sharaf in just 12 seconds, suffering the third-fastest KO in UFC heavyweight history.

The fight already had plenty of tension before it began, with Sharaf bringing up Steveson’s 2019 assault case during fight week. Despite entering the bout with a 0-2 UFC record, Sharaf was facing a massive -2400 favorite in Steveson.

However, none of that mattered once the fight started. Sharaf landed a brutal left hook that sent Steveson crashing to the canvas and produced one of the biggest upsets of his career. The aftermath only added to the controversy, as Steveson quickly left the Octagon after being stopped and did not stick around for Bruce Buffer’s official announcement of Sharaf as the winner.

Jon Jones later defended his fighter’s decision, saying it was his responsibility to look after Steveson following the brutal knockout. Still, the loss has led to calls for Steveson to leave Jones and find a new training camp. Colby Covington has been one of the loudest critics of Jones throughout the fallout. And his recent comments on the situation got a reply from Jones on social media.

Colby Covington Blames Jon Jones’ Influence for Gable Steveson’s 12-Second Knockout Loss

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Covington took aim at Steveson’s reaction to the loss, saying, “It was pitiful. It was embarrassing. Dude, you’ve always been a winner, and you’ve won your whole life; take your loss like a man. Why are you running out of the cage crying, running away from your reality? Your reality is you got knocked out. You put your hands down; you weren’t ready for the moment.”

Covington then turned his attention toward Jones and argued that the former two-division champion was having a negative influence on Steveson. He added, “I think a lot of bad energy comes onto him from Jon Jones. … He’s a piece of s**t. He’s a woman beater. He’s a demon. He’s an evil person. All the chemicals he’s put in his body: steroids, his whole career. Multiple failed tests, picograms, d***s, cocaine, party, women, hookers! He’s just not a good person. That kind of energy will transform onto someone else.”

The former interim champion continued by explaining how he believes Steveson views his relationship with Jones, but his comments quickly turned into another attack on “Bones.”

He added, “And Gable thinks it’s cool. ‘Oh, I’m hanging out with one of the greatest fighters of all time. Oh, I’m so cool!’ But really, he’s just killing himself. He’s ruining his own career, because energy is everything. You’re now taking energy from a guy that’s a literal demon, and you’re putting it into your career, and he’s filling your head with false hope and telling you all these things, but that’s not reality. And now he met his reality; he was upset, and we’ve got to see how he comes back.”

Colby Covington tears into Jon Jones after Gable Steveson’s loss, claiming Jon is ‘the biggest thing holding him back’:

“I think a lot of bad energy comes onto him from Jon Jones. Gable thinks it’s cool, ‘Oh, I’m hanging out with one of the greatest fighters of all time. Oh yeah, I’m so cool.’ But really, he’s just killing himself, bro.

You’re now taking energy from a guy that’s a literal demon… He just doesn’t realize that the biggest thing holding him back is his corner man, Jon Jones.

He may have been a great fighter and done some great things in the UFC, but he’s not a good coach… You need good energy around you, you need good people, and you need good coaches. He’s not a good coach. He’s not a proven coach.”

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 7, 2026

ALSO READ: Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov Clash at UFC Performance Institute Over Stalled Middleweight Title Fight

Covington also questioned whether Steveson would actually leave Jones and Jackson Wink. According to the former 3-time UFC title challenger, Steveson is enjoying the attention that comes with being around one of MMA’s biggest stars.

He claimed, “He just likes the attention. He likes the hype and the fame, the clout that comes from hanging around Jon Jones. It’s just sad. He can do so much better. There’s so much more for him to prove and do, and he just doesn’t realize that the biggest thing holding him back is his cornerman, Jon Jones.”

Jones clearly did not appreciate the criticism. After Covington’s comments went viral, the UFC legend responded on X and pushed back against the idea that his influence was responsible for Steveson’s defeat.

Jon Jones Fires Back at Colby Covington and Trolls His UFC 245 Loss to Kamaru Usman

Jones wrote, “It’s funny that you blame Gable’s loss on my ‘negative energy.’ Meanwhile, I’m an undefeated fighter living the absolute American dream. Before he was caught, our guy had finished every opponent in the first round. Your logic doesn’t make any sense.”

He then took aim at Covington personally, adding, “I also find it funny that you, of all people, are commenting on my supposedly negative energy. I travel the world alone and get mobbed by fans, while you need full-time security in your own country. You come out once a quarter to do an interview about me and what a terrible person I am. Boy, you’re obsessed with me. A blind man could see that.”

It’s funny that you blame Gable’s loss on my “negative energy.” Meanwhile, I’m an undefeated fighter living the absolute American dream. Before he was caught, our guy had finished every opponent in the first round. Your logic doesn’t make any sense.

I also find it funny that you, of all people, are commenting on my supposedly negative energy. I travel the world alone and get mobbed by fans, while you need full-time security in your own country.

You come out once a quarter to do an interview about me and what a terrible person I am. Boy, you’re obsessed with me. A blind man could see that.

We started off in the same dorm room, yet I’ve earned and achieved literally ten times more than you have.

I genuinely hope that one day you start to feel better. It sucks to even have to address you. … again

— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) October 7, 2026

Jones also brought up their past as wrestling roommates at Iowa Central Community College before comparing their respective careers in MMA. He wrote, “We started off in the same dorm room, yet I’ve earned and achieved literally ten times more than you have. I genuinely hope that one day you start to feel better. It sucks to even have to address you. … again.”

But Jones wasn’t done. He also took a shot at Covington’s first UFC welterweight title fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 245, where Usman famously broke his jaw. Jones wrote, “Colby, I think your deep hatred is directed at the wrong Black guy. It was Usman who broke your face, not me.”

Colby, I think your deep hatred is directed at the wrong Black guy. It was Usman who broke your face, not me. https://t.co/DmS9E9tx8W

— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) October 7, 2026

Covington fired back almost immediately, doubling down on everything he said during his appearance with Helwani.

Colby Covington Stands Firm on Jon Jones Criticism After Social Media Clash

He wrote, “The things I say only bother you because they’re true @jonnybones. You’re a narcissistic abusive sociopath. Your achievements inside the octagon don’t make you a better person outside of it.”

He added, “Those same achievements definitely dont give you the right to abuse women either, Jon. At the end of the day, I feel for Gable being in this situation… it’s too bad he can’t take punches from heavyweights as well as your wife does.”

Covington then ended the back-and-forth by offering Steveson a very specific alternative. If the Olympic gold medalist truly wants to take his MMA career to the next level, Covington believes he should leave Jones and train with Jones’ longtime rival, Daniel Cormier.

The things I say only bother you because they’re true @jonnybones . You’re a narcissistic abusive sociopath. Your achievements inside the octagon don’t make you a better person outside of it. Those same achievements definitely dont give you the right to abuse women either Jon. At the end of the day I feel for Gable being in this situation… it’s too bad he can’t take punches from heavyweights as well as your wife does. If Gable really cares about advancing in his career he should leave you and go train with a real man like Daniel Cormier.

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) October 8, 2026

He concluded with, “If Gable really cares about advancing i...

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