Gable Steveson got absolutely floored in just 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 this past Saturday in Los Angeles, and now Henry Cejudo is straight up asking if the Olympic gold medalist’s head is even in the game. It was a shocking upset knockout, plain and simple, and it’s got everyone, including Cejudo, wondering what in the world is going on with a talent like Steveson.
From Olympic Gold to Rocky Roads
Steveson winning Olympic gold in wrestling back in 2020 felt like the start of something legendary, but it’s been a wild, bumpy ride ever since. He signed with WWE from 2021 to 2024, and honestly, he barely showed up. You’d think an Olympic champ would be front and center, but Cejudo noted he “didn’t make too many appearances.” Then came a super brief stint in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills in 2024. Three months later? Waived. That’s a quick exit for anyone, let alone a guy with his athletic pedigree. It was his move to MMA that finally showed some real promise, going 3-0 before he even signed with the UFC. He even knocked out Elisha Ellison in Round 1 at UFC 329. That’s the guy we thought we were getting, right? But then UFC 331 happened, and that 12-second KO brought all those questions right back to the surface. His overall MMA record now sits at 4-1, but that UFC run is a concerning 1-1.
The Unsettled Mind: Cejudo Sounds Off
Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler himself, isn’t holding back on his assessment of Steveson’s struggles. He told Full Send MMA that his biggest concern is Steveson’s “perspective.” Cejudo highlighted the repeated pattern: “after the Olympics, he tried out for the WWE, and it didn’t work out. He tried out for [the NFL], and it didn’t work out.” It’s like Steveson just can’t “finish the job” after hitting that Olympic peak, even getting second in the Nationals. Cejudo firmly believes it’s all “mental,” emphasizing that Steveson is a physical “specimen” who could absolutely dominate if he’s disciplined. The technique isn’t the problem, Cejudo insists. He says “There’s something that’s not there since the Olympics, and he needs to figure that out.” For Cejudo, Steveson has to be “100 percent honest with himself and really pinpoint what is it” that’s holding him back. He’s even suggested Steveson take a whole year off, just to focus on his striking and defense.
This isn’t about physical ability for Cejudo, it’s about whatever is “unsettled” in Steveson’s head. He’s got all the talent in the world, but if he can’t get his mindset right, how many more shocking KOs are we going to see? Steveson needs to seriously look inward and find that missing piece.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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