Former champion Henry Cejudo suggests that Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson should spend a full year refining his striking defense. This advice follows Steveson's defeat by Sharaf at UFC 331.
Henry Cejudo's one-year striking mandate for Gable Steveson
Speaking on the 'Pound 4 Pound' podcast, Henry Cejudo argued that Gable Steveson is currently "too green" to compete at the highest levels of the UFC. According to the report, the former two-division champion believes that Steveson's current skill set is dangerously unbalanced, leaving him vulnerable to opponents who can exploit his lack of striking experience.
To remedy this, Henry Cejudo advocates for a radical shift in training. He suggests that Gable Steveson should ignore grappling matches and other competitive distractions for a full twelve months to focus exclusively on defensive striking. By removing the pressure of immediate competition, Cejudo believes Steveson can build a well-rounded arsenal that complements his world-class wrestling.
The warning to Bo Nickal against rushing the MMA game
The advice extended beyond Steveson, as Henry Cejudo also issued a cautionary note to collegiate wrestling standout Bo Nickal.. As reported on the 'Pound 4 Pound' podcast,Cejudo warned Nickal that "you cannot hurry up in the game," suggesting that the transition to mixed martial arts requires a level of patience and respect for the learning curve that cannot be bypassed through raw athletic talent.
By citing the recent struggles of Gable Steveson, Henry Cejudo hopes that Bo Nickal will avoid the trap of rushing into high-stakes fights before his striking is sufficiently developed. the emphasis is on a holistic approach to mixed martial arts, where the athlete focuses on the "game" as a whole rather than relying solely on a dominant wrestling background.
The gap between Olympic wrestling gold and UFC striking defense
The situation involving Gable Steveson highlights a recurring challenge for elite wrestlers entering the UFC: the "striking gap." While an Olympic gold medal proves mastery of the mat, the Octagon requires a completely different defensive architecture. Wrestlers often struggle with the distance and timing required to avoid strikes, a vulnerability that experienced MMA fighters are trained to exploit.
This trend suggests that the transition from single-discipline dominance to multi-disciplinary proficiency is the most perilous phase of a fighter's career. When athletes like Gable Steveson enter the UFC with immense hype, the pressure to perform immediately often overrides the need for a slow, methodical build-up of defensive skills, leading to the kind of "upsets" seen at UFC 331.
The technical gaps exposed by Sharaf's victory over Steveson
The loss to Sharaf serves as a concrete example of why Henry Cejudo is calling for a year of specialized training. While the report does not provide a detailed play-by-play of the fight, it characterizes the result as a "historic loss" and an "upset," implying that Gable Steveson's wrestling was unable to compensate for his defensive lapses on the feet.
However, several key details remain unverified. The report does not include a response from Gable Steveson regarding whether he intends to follow Cejudo's advice, nor does it clarify if the UFC would support a year-long hiatus for a high-profile athlete . Furthermore, the specific technical failures that led to the defeat by Sharaf have not been detailed, leaving the exact nature of Steveson's "greenness" open to interpretation.
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