Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson is set to face ADCC silver medalist Craig Jones in a submission-grappling showdown this August at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) 2. This unexpected matchup has drawn strong reactions from figures across the sport, including former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, who didn’t mince words about the contest.
“Gable versus Craig? That is kind of a joke,”
Sonnen declared on his channel, expressing skepticism about the Olympic wrestler’s sudden pivot to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against one of the discipline’s elite practitioners.
The announcement came as a surprise to many, particularly since Steveson had recently been discussing UFC aspirations under the mentorship of heavyweight champion Jon Jones. This abrupt change in direction has raised eyebrows throughout the combat sports community.
Sonnen, never one to hold back his opinions, drew parallels between Steveson’s career trajectory and that of Bob Sapp, a once-prominent figure who competed across multiple combat sports without establishing mastery in any single domain.
“Bob Sapp, he was this big deal over there—whether he was to you guys or not—and the people loved him. He was bringing in all sorts of money, and pretty soon, it was all gone. But there was no legacy to go with it,”
Sonnen explained.
“Was he football player, because he played a little bit of football? Was he a kickboxer, because I saw him in K1? Was he [in] MMA, most of them looked like works.”
The crux of Sonnen’s critique appears to be Steveson’s approach to his post-Olympic career. Rather than focusing on developing expertise in a single area, the two-time NCAA champion seems to be exploring multiple opportunities across different combat sports.
According to “The American Gangster,” what Steveson really needs is humility and structure.
“He needs the kind of MMA where he is the pupil now, where he comes in and he’s the head wrestling coach or, you know, he’s the cool guy with an Olympic gold medal. He needs to humble himself,”
Sonnen advised.
The matchup itself presents an intriguing clash of styles. Wrestling versus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu showdowns have historically created compelling viewing, as evidenced by the 2019 bout between Gordon Ryan and Bo Nickal, where the BJJ practitioner emerged victorious.
However, the key difference here is experience. Steveson has never competed in BJJ professionally, making his decision to debut against someone of Jones‘ caliber particularly perplexing.
Sonnen further suggested that Steveson should find the “right” management team and training partners before attempting to make significant moves in mixed martial arts.
