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MMA prospect Aaron Pico has given Gable Steveson some advice on how to handle his first ever knockout loss.
At UFC 331, Gable Steveson suffered one of the biggest upsets in the recent history of mixed martial arts. He was knocked out cold by Sean Sharaf, setting him back massively in his attempt to become a UFC world champion.
RELATED: Josh Hokit blames Jon Jones for Gable Steveson's nightmare loss at UFC 331: “This sh*t ain't sweetâ€
Ever since then, a lot of views have been flying around regarding the future of Gable Steveson. Some couldn't care less about what happens, whereas others are still interested to see what his potential is in the heavyweight division.
In a recent interview, Aaron Pico, who has experience with surprising defeats, had the following to say about Gable Steveson's situation.
Aaron Pico's advice to Gable Steveson
“I'm not going to sugarcoat it: It sucks big time,†Pico told MMA Junkie Radio. “But I've been there before and everybody's process is a little bit different. I don't know Gable. I know him, but not well. He has the same coaches I do and things like that, but I mean, I can tell you what I did after my last loss on a big stage, obviously the UFC. I fought on the Khamzat card and was the co-main event right out the gate and took a really hard knockout.
“What I did basically – I mean, like I said, everybody's process is a little bit different, but I'm just being honest with you. I stepped away for a little bit, for a few months and went traveled the world with my family, smoked a lot of cigars. I like cigars, by the way, and just did some thinking and reflecting on what I could have done, what I need to change, and asked myself, do I really want to do this? And the answer was, hell yes, I do, and just got back to work.
“You've got to block out the noise, and I surround myself with people who really care about me and had some tough conversations, especially with my father. There's one person on the planet that's going to really tell you what you need to hear, and that's your dad. So I had some good conversations with my father, and I figured out what I needed to do, what I'm lacking in my game, and just got to work.
“It sounds so simple, but that's ultimately what you've got to do. Like when you're a young kid, you take a loss on the weekend, on a Saturday, and you're back in the wrestling room on Monday. Obviously, fighting is a little bit different because there's so much pressure and so much media now with the social media, and so many people doing this. You've got outside noise and you've got your pass, but if you really want to do this, get back in the work room and figure out what you need to do.â€
Quotes via MMA Junkie
What should be next for Gable? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
UFC 334 goes down this Saturday with two pretty damn intriguing title fights.
In the main event, undisputed* heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane goes for his first defense against, yes, one of the most talked-about fighters of 2026, the undefeated Josh Hokit. Folks, there’s a well-above zero chance that Hokit closes out the year as the UFC’s heavyweight king. Wowza.
Then you have the bantamweight matchup of destiny between champion Kayla Harrison and the GOAT herself Amanda Nunes. Where these two legends and the division go after UFC 334 is anybody’s guess, but this fight had to happen and it’s finally going down in Madison Square Garden.
So what’s your level of excitement as we kick off fight week?
Andre
Galvao is embracing a daunting challenge as he prepares to face
Rousimar
“Toquinho†Palhares at ACBJJ 23 on Nov. 13 in Rio de
Janeiro.
The Brazilian grappler will face Palhares in a rematch of their
2011 ADCC final, this time under rules that permit strikes to the
body.
Andre Galvao prepares for Rousimar Palhares at ACBJJ 23 under
rules allowing body strikes
Galvao, 44, told Sherdog that a renewed desire to compete and an
attractive offer from the promotion prompted his return. He
initially expected the rematch to follow the rules of their
previous encounter, but the format changed as plans developed.
“First they got my yes, then came the surprises,†Galvao said.
“Later on they told me it would be up to 100kg (220 pounds); then
that it would be nine minutes of fighting instead of seven; and
finally they informed me that punches and kicks would be
allowed.â€
The prospect of facing Palhares under those conditions concerned
some of Galvao's friends and students. However, the Atos Jiu-Jitsu
leader believes his MMA experience has prepared him for the
challenge.
“Several friends came to me and said, ‘You're crazy, coming back
right away against Toquinho and with strikes allowed?'†Galvao
recalled. “The fact is that since I built my career more in
Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling, the youngsters forget that I've already
had seven MMA fights, and during that period I was training with
champions like Anderson, Rafael Feijão and Ronaldo Jacare, so
taking punches isn't exactly something that scares me that
much.â€
Galvao nevertheless recognizes the threat Palhares poses.
“Toquinho is a monster, he's incredibly strong. I joke that I'm
prepared to face a monster on Friday the 13th,†Galvao said. “That
fight of ours in the ADCC final in London in 2011 is still
considered one of the best in history. I'm sure we're going to put
on another great fight and make history again.â€
Galvao won their first meeting 9-4 in the under-88-kilogram ADCC
final in Nottingham, England. Their rematch will headline ACBJJ 23
at Farmasi Arena.
Johnny
Walker's heavyweight run is going faster than he planned.
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweights Sean Brady
and Gabriel
Bonfim were originally scheduled to headline
UFC Vegas 124 on Nov. 7 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. However,
Brady pulled out because of a severe staph infection and the
promotion didn't book a replacement to keep Bonfim on the card.
Walker then accepted the headlining matchup against Waldo
Cortes-Acosta on nine days' notice.
What a victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta could mean for Johnny
Walker
Walker (23-10, 1 NC) made his heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin
in October, scoring a bonus-winning first-round knockout. The
former light heavyweight recently revealed he originally wanted to
take things slow in his new weight class.
“I was thinking to take small steps and go slow in the division,â€
Walker said at media day ahead of UFC Vegas 124. “See how I feel at
heavyweight. That was my plan. God had different plans than me. God
has better plans for me.â€
Cortes-Acosta (17-4) was riding a three-fight win streak before
losing to Alexander
Volkov and Curtis
Blaydes this year. A win over “Salsa Boy†will launch Walker
into the heavyweight Top 10 in just his second appearance in the
division.