Coach: 'Bad advice' for Gable Steveson to leave Jon Jones after UFC 331

Javier Mendez, a respected coach, does not believe that Jon Jones is to blame for Gable Steveson's unexpected defeat at UFC 331. Steveson, who had a losing record of 1-1 in the UFC, was knocked out in just 12 seconds by Sean Sharaf in a shocking upset. Colby Covington, in a misguided attempt to support Steveson, advised him to sever his ties with Jones, whom he deemed a negative influence.

However, Mendez strongly disagreed with Covington's advice. He insisted that it was ill-advised for Steveson to abandon his mentorship with Jones. Jones, a master at his craft, is merely a victim of circumstance and should not be held accountable for the young fighter's downfall. Mendez argued that Steveson should have made clear that they would bring the fight to Jones and undermine his confidence.

The coach also noted that Steveson's reaction was indicative of his distress and suggested that he would need strong guidance to overcome this setback and regain his self-belief.