Gable Steveson knockout loss was expected, claims Usman Nurmagomedov

Gable Steveson‘s massive upset loss at UFC 331 wasn’t a surprise to everyone.

Entering his fight last Saturday, the Olympic gold medalist and wrestling phenom was the clear favorite. A heavyweight prospect who claimed he would be the UFC champion after just one year with the company, and nobody raised an eyebrow. His background proved he could be something great. While he still can, he just took a huge step away from his goal. A knockout defeat that made him the biggest betting favorite to lose, surpassing Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm, on sportsbook BetOnline.ag. But what happened to him in Los Angeles, California, just days ago was expected, says Usman Nurmagomedov.

A firm believer that you have to be well-rounded, as the sports namesake suggests, Nurmagomedov signaled where Gable Steveson went wrong. A lack of amateur bouts led to discomfort in the cage, resulting in him not grasping distance management. That’s what Nurmagomedov believes, who said:

“He’s an Olympic champion, but not in MMA, isn’t he? He’s got no amateur experience. But as we all know, you have to have amateur experience as a fighter. One hundred fights at least. You have to feel it out; that stage, the MMA stage. And again, the very first punch landed. He didn’t feel the distance.”

“Yes, he is a good wrestler, an Olympic-level wrestler. But he’s not a fighter nor a striker. But that is mixed martial arts, right? That includes everything.”

Despite his defeat, Usman Nurmagomedov offered his condolences to Gable Steveson. Understanding that the lows of the sport can happen to anybody, Nurmagomedov wished Steveson a speedy recovery.

“I wish him well. Speedy recovery and future success. This is MMA; this kind of thing happens here.”

Listen to what Usman Nurmagomedov had to say about Gable Steveson’s defeat in the video below.