UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is underway with his preparations for his long awaited return at UFC 309 in November.
"Bones" will be making the first defense of his title against the former champion Stipe Miocic in what is likely to be the final fight of his career. Jones has been able to build a small but closely knit team around him since moving up to heavyweight but in order to keep it fresh, he was seen getting some new looks in a recent video.
The former light heavyweight champion was seen working alongside Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson who has hinted at competing in MMA in the past.
After winning gold in wrestling at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Steveson has tried his hand at professional wrestling and football but is clearly taking an interest in mixed martial arts. If this is going to be a potential career move for him, why not jump in at the deep end by grappling with the consensus greatest that MMA has ever seen.
Jon Jones Trains With Gable Steveson
In the multiple training videos posted by Jones on social media, one particular exchange nearly ends very badly for Steveson.
"Bones" goes for a single leg and when Steveson escapes, he goes immediately for the same technique on Jones, lunging towards his legs. Whether he did it instinctually or didn't mean to actually connect, Jones throws a knee as a counter which lands but fortunately, doesn't do much damage.
The heavyweight champion immediately asks him if he's okay and breaks the clinch as the two men laugh about it. It certainly would have been a rough welcome to mixed martial arts if Steveson had been hit by a knee that had even a little bit more power behind it.