TLDR
- Daniel Cormier says Jon Jones does not have the selflessness required to coach Gable Steveson to a world championship
- Cormier spent time with Jones on ALF Reality 3 and compared him unfavorably to coach Khabib Nurmagomedov
- The former UFC champion says great coaches must put their ego aside and make their athletes the priority
- Gable Steveson is a 2-0 heavyweight prospect and Olympic gold medalist being trained by Jones
- Cormier believes Jones being an active UFC fighter prevents him from fully dedicating himself to coaching
Sources: MMA Weekly | BJ Penn | Sherdog
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier says Jon Jones does not have what it takes to coach Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to a world championship. Cormier made the comments during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
The former two-time UFC champion spent time with Jones while coaching on ALF Reality 3, a Russian reality television show. Both UFC legends trained top MMA prospects on the program earlier this year.
Cormier says Jones lacks the selflessness required to be a great coach. He compared Jones to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has become known for his coaching abilities.
“Khabib is the most selfless person you’ve ever met,” Cormier said. “He can put his athletes above himself, in front of him, in everything that he does.”
The Ego Problem
Cormier believes great coaches must put their ego aside. He says they need to become secondary to the athletes they train.
“In order to be a great coach, you cannot have an ego,” Cormier explained. “You have to become secondary to everyone that you coach.”
Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones coaching Gable Steveson 'may slow him down' https://t.co/uIJNdgQhCf
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 15, 2026
Jones is still an active fighter on the UFC roster. He is planning a return to the Octagon later this year.
Cormier questions whether Jones can be giving enough to make Steveson the star. “Jon, he’s still active and on the roster, and I don’t know if he can be as giving and selfless to make [Gable Steveson] the true star of the show,” he said.
The former champion pointed to Nurmagomedov’s dedication to his fighters. “I watched Khabib spend a lot of time away from his family to be with those guys to make that they’re ready. I just don’t know if that’s Jon.”
Steveson’s MMA Journey
Gable Steveson won an Olympic gold medal in wrestling before transitioning to mixed martial arts. The heavyweight prospect currently holds a 2-0 record in his young MMA career.
Jones has promised a future world title for Steveson. UFC CEO Dana White has already shown interest in the Olympic champion.
Steveson could potentially receive an invite to Dana White’s Contender Series later this year. The show gives prospects a chance to earn a UFC contract.
Cormier did acknowledge that Steveson has a real chance to become a world champion. However, he listed Jones as one of the factors that may slow down the prospect’s progress.
“I believe [Gable Steveson] has a real chance to be a world champion,” Cormier said. “I do think there are some factors that may slow him down — his coach is Jon Jones.”
The relationship between Cormier and Jones remains tense. Jones recently called Cormier a bad coach to his athletes during their time on ALF Reality 3.
Jones and Cormier fought twice during their UFC careers. Their rivalry has continued even after both moved into coaching roles.
Cormier noted that Jones has changed since their fighting days. “Honestly, after spending all that time with Jon in Thailand, he’s different today than he was back then,” he said.
Steveson has formed a close relationship with Jones during his training. The heavyweight prospect continues working with other coaches as well as he develops his MMA skills.
