As far as having a mentor in the cage, a young fighter can’t do much better than former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones. Outside the cage, though, is a different story. And that’s where Brendan Schaub is concerned about Gable Steveson.
Steveson, who won freestyle wrestling gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics, is in the early stages of his mixed martial arts journey under the tutelage of Jones and his team. Steveson is 2-0 in MMA and 1-0 competing for the Jones-backed Dirty Boxing Championship promotion, which has created a lot of buzz around Steveson’s name.
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Steveson is widely expected to join the UFC sooner than later and before that happens, Schaub, who fought in the UFC from 2009 to 2014, has some advice on being selective when it comes to following Jones’ lead.
“There’s only one Jon Jones,” Schaub said on his “The Schaub Show” podcast. “So, if you go, ‘Jon, what did you do to get ready for Gustafsson in the first fight (at UFC 165)?’ He goes, ‘Party, showed up the week before, beat the sh*t out of him.’ I don’t know if that’s the best advice, man. I don’t know if that’s the smartest advice. You’ve got a lot of work to do. There’s only one Jon. The reason he’s the GOAT is because of what he did inside the octagon. He’s not the GOAT as far as outside the octagon.”
More: Joe Rogan: Gable Steveson already in championship-caliber class
Jones’ history of transgressions has been well documented through the years, with multiple failed drug tests and multiple arrests – ranging from hit-and-run to domestic abuse charges – plaguing his career. Because of that, Schaub believes it would be wise for Steveson to turn to others for guidance outside the cage.
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“If you’re taking the GOAT talk, accomplishments inside the octagon and outside, it’s (Demetrious Johnson). It’s ‘Mighty Mouse,’ or it’s (Georges St-Pierre),” Schaub said. “Those are guys that would be great mentors. ‘Mighty Mouse,’ even though smaller, would be a much better mentor to advise you on, as far as how to handle fame, women, family, sponsorships, life outside the UFC, expanding your footprint as far as expanding your business reach and stuff like that. I would reach out to that guy or GSP, another great one.
“(But) Jon is a wild boy, which is what makes him one of the greatest of all time. You’ve got to be absolutely delusional to not train for a world championship fight and think you can win it. There’s only one of him. That’s not the guy you want to listen to.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC veteran warns Gable Steveson of embracing Jon Jones as mentor
