Henry Cejudo Says Gable Steveson Has a Mental Block Since Winning Olympic Gold

Henry Cejudo, himself an Olympic gold medalist and former UFC double champion, believes Gable Steveson's problems run deeper than technique. After Steveson suffered a shocking 12-second knockout loss to Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19, Cejudo pointed to a pattern that started long before the octagon.

"There's something that's not there since the Olympics, and he needs to figure that out," Cejudo told Yahoo Sports. "Whether he could completely be 100 percent honest with himself... it's not technique, I'll tell you that much."

Cejudo questioned Steveson's perspective and commitment, noting a string of unfulfilled opportunities since his Tokyo gold medal. Steveson's post-Olympic career has included an unsuccessful WWE run, a brief NFL attempt, and a second-place finish at the wrestling Nationals.

"My question is his perspective," Cejudo said. He described something "unsettled" in Steveson where "he's just not finishing the job after the Olympics."

Steveson's MMA record now sits at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the UFC after the devastating loss to Sharaf in Los Angeles. The knockout dropped him from one of the promotion's most hyped prospects to a cautionary tale about the gap between amateur pedigree and professional readiness.

Cejudo has previously recommended that Steveson take a full year off to develop his striking and defensive skills before returning to competition.