Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson has pulled out of his extremely anticipated superfight in opposition to Craig Jones on the Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2), citing a turf toe damage suffered throughout coaching. The withdrawal comes simply days earlier than the occasion, scheduled for August 30-31 on the Thomas & Mack Heart in Las Vegas.
Craig Jones introduced the information via his Instagram account, stating that Steveson wouldn’t be competing because of the toe damage. The timing of the withdrawal has drawn vital consideration from the grappling neighborhood, notably given the proximity to Steveson’s scheduled MMA debut at LFA 217 on September 12.
Gable Steveson Toe Harm
Turf toe is a hyperextension damage to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the massive toe, usually brought on by the toe being compelled upward past its regular vary of movement. One of these damage is especially problematic for wrestling and grappling actions, because it impacts explosiveness, push-off capabilities, directional modifications, and general mobility.
The damage happens when extreme power is utilized to the toe, usually throughout high-impact sports activities actions. For wrestlers and grapplers, turf toe can develop from the strain and power utilized to the toes throughout holds and grappling exchanges, as the necessity to keep steadiness and apply strain strains the toe joint.
Medical professionals usually suggest not less than three weeks of relaxation for athletes with turf toe to permit correct therapeutic of the joint capsule. With out ample relaxation, the damage can progress and result in extended restoration durations.
CJI 2 Disruption
The withdrawal has created vital disruption for the CJI 2 occasion, which was set to characteristic the superfight as one in every of its primary points of interest alongside the team-based event format. Craig Jones has begun reaching out for potential replacements, together with semi-jokingly contacting Wyatt Hendrickson, who defeated Gable Steveson within the NCAA championships earlier this yr.
The Craig Jones Invitational 2 represents a shift from the person event format of the inaugural 2024 occasion to a team-based Quintet-style competitors that includes eight groups of 5 grapplers competing for $1 million. The occasion additionally features a separate $100,000 ladies’s bracket.
MMA Debut Stays Scheduled
Regardless of the withdrawal from CJI 2, Steveson’s skilled MMA debut at LFA 217 stays scheduled for September 12 on the Mystic Lake On line casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota. He’s set to face 37-year-old Braden Peterson, who holds a 1-0 skilled report with a 14-second knockout victory in his debut.
The 25-year-old Steveson brings an distinctive wrestling pedigree to his MMA transition, having received Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling’s heavyweight division on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and capturing two NCAA Division I championships on the College of Minnesota. He’s the youngest American heavyweight wrestler to say Olympic gold, attaining this milestone at age 21.
Group Response and Skepticism
The withdrawal has generated appreciable dialogue throughout the grappling neighborhood, with some questioning the timing and nature of the damage. Social media reactions have ranged from understanding in regards to the medical necessity of avoiding competitors with such an damage to skepticism in regards to the determination to withdraw from a grappling match whereas sustaining an MMA debut simply two weeks later.
UFC legend Chael Sonnen had beforehand expressed confusion about Steveson’s determination to compete in each CJI 2 and make his MMA debut in such shut succession, suggesting that the totally different fight sports activities would require distinct psychological preparation.
Steveson had been coaching extensively for the CJI 2 match, together with work with varied MMA coaches and time spent with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones in preparation for each grappling and combined martial arts competitors.
